Wholesale price of potato falls as imports arrive

The second shipment of 976 metric tonnes of potatoes has arrived from India for domestic consumption in Bangladesh amid government efforts to ease the price.

On Thursday, seven trucks carrying 180 metric tonnes of potatoes entered the country through the Hilly Land port. For this reason, the prices of potato dropped at different markets. Indian potato is being sold at Tk 31 to 33 per
(kilogram) kg at wholesale hilly markets.

Retailer Md Ashraf Ali said the potato prices in the hilly market dropped by Tk 5 per kg after Indian potatoes reached the country. The sweet potato is now being sold at Tk 55 instead of Tk 60 at many places, particularly in Dhaka city.

Mahbub Hossain, the manager of Khan International, an importing entity, said the potatoes are being imported from various parts of India. A metric tonne of potatoes has been bought at Tk 130-140 US Dollars.

Sohrab Hossain, public relations officer at Hili land port said they are helping the importers for rapid marketing of the potatoes, as potato is a perishable product. He said 45 Indian trucks have carried 1166 metric tonnes of potatoes into the country through the port in the last two days.

Besides, the second consignment of 518 tonnes of potatoes has reached Sonamasjid Land Port in Chapainawabganj. As such prices of potato dropped by Tk 10 to12.

Indian trucks carrying potatoes started to enter the port yard on Saturday (November 4) noon.

On October 30, the commerce ministry decided to allow potato imports for the first time in an effort to increase supply of the tuber and curb prices, which have reached a historic high of Tk 60 per kilogramme (kg) in Dhaka.