In Bogura district, there is a crisis in market despite the significant surplus of potatoes. Overproduction of potatoes, totaling 1,224,342 metric tons from 53,215 hectares of land, far exceeds the demand of 200,000 metric tons for the local population of 3.7 million. There are 41 cold storage facilities with a capacity of 374,629 metric tons.
However, this surplus has led to hoarding by three potato wholesalers who are currently facing legal action. They had collectively stored 3,000 sacks (equivalent to 180,000 kg) of potatoes in cold storage, incurring a cost of BDT 23 per kg, and subsequently sold them at prices ranging from BDT 27 to 35 per kg. In the Rajabazar market, potatoes are wholesaled at BDT 36 per kg, but retail prices have surged to BDT 40-52 per kg. Despite government-set prices, enforcing them on businesses remains challenging, causing instability in potato prices. The surplus and price fluctuations call for a strategic resolution to ensure a steady potato market.
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