Bangladesh: Potato prices skyrocket as production slumps

Just a couple of years ago, farmers in the northern region were struggling to sell their potatoes due to low prices. Now the situation has flipped entirely, with potato prices surpassing even those of coarse and medium-quality rice. The Ministry of Agriculture attributes the price hike to a significant potato production deficit. This shortfall has made it difficult to control the market, even with potato imports. Current potato stocks are only expected to last until September, leaving a significant gap before the next harvest. Potatoes are currently selling at Tk60-65 per kg, slightly down from the recent high of Tk70. Businessmen and regulatory bodies fear the situation could worsen in the coming months. Bangladesh previously had a stable year-round potato supply through cold storage facilities and robust production exceeding demand. The country even had export ambitions. However, those plans seem pretty distant now. Import delays and production shortfall Despite government ...