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Advanced variety of potatoes has appeared at different markets in the northern region including Bogura, Sirajganj, Rangpur, Dinajpur and Rajshahi districts.
The traders assume that the prices will come down soon with the sufficient supply.
During a visit to different markets in Bogura town, this correspondent came to know that the prices of potatoes at wholesale markets have reduced slightly compared to the retail markets in different places.
Traders' leaders said the prices have started declining due to appearance of the advanced variety of potatoes.
Jamsher Ali, a potato trader in Jaleswaritola Bazar in Bogura, said, "Per kg of potato is now being sold between Tk 50 and Tk 55, while it was Tk 70 a week ago. The price has started falling due to the presence of new potatoes in the markets."
"The prices of potatoes became doubled this year compared to any other time of previous years," he added.
Motlubur Rahman, DD of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Bogura, said, "Consumers are being deprived of getting benefits even after bumper production of potatoes. About 2.5 million (25 lakh) tonnes of potatoes may be produced in the region this year, while it was about 2.2 million (22 lakh) tonnes last year".
According to Bangladesh Cold Storage Association, there is an annual demand of potato at around 8.5 million (85 lakh) tonnes. The local potatoes are preserved at around 400 cold storages in the country. Of them, the highest cold storage is located in the northern region. Some potatoes are preserved in the storages for using as seeds. But, the rent of cold storages has recently increased abnormally on the plea of power bill hike that hits farmers. As a result, the prices of potatoes at different markets went up.
Earlier, the government has decided to allow traders to import potatoes from India to keep the market price stable. The import of potatoes from the neighbouring country started since November 02 as the prices of potatoes went out of reach to the consumers for the last few days due to artificial crisis caused by cold storage syndication.
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