South Africa: Power cuts and farm costs have pushed up potato prices

Published 2023년 10월 19일

Tridge summary

The price of potatoes in South Africa has skyrocketed, with a 7kg bag costing between R110 and R120. The increase in prices was driven by factors such as power cuts, higher farm input costs, and a decline in local production and supply. The South African potato farming market is struggling to meet production needs, leading to a reliance on imports that are also affected by high-cost prices.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

By Nomalanga Tshuma CONSUMERS who are thinking of the traditional potato salad or baked potatoes drizzled with chicken juice on Christmas Day must think again as the price of their favorite spud has gone through the roof. Currently, a 7kg bag of potatoes costs between R110 and R120, while a 10kg bag costs about R189.99 at grocery stores like Checkers, OK and Food Lovers Market. The Western Cape Department of Agriculture said South African potato prices emerged by more than double over the year, increasing by 102% in October 2023, exceeding the 2022 mid-October potato average prices and setting a new high staple for the vegetable. The department said in week 38 of 2023, potato prices averaged R10,704 per ton, an increase of 21% week-on-week, driven by a decline of 27% week-on-week to 13 291 tons. Western Cape Department of Agriculture spokesperson Ayabonga Sibulali said the industry's price surge was driven by increased power cuts and an increase in farm input costs. “The domestic ...

Source: Argenpapa