Potato prices were within the reach of buyers at this time last year. This time the potato market went up after the end of the production season. Consumers bought garlic produced in the country at a very low price a year ago. These two agricultural products have to be bought at an increased price of more than 40 percent this time.

Consumers have to buy onion produced in the country at a 24 percent higher price within a year. Soon after the end of the production season, high prices of these agricultural products are seen in the market. All these three products are brought home by the farmers before the onset of Kalbaisakhi in mid-April.

Talking to the concerned persons, it is known that the price of potato and onion was high during the production season. Because, at the end of last year, the prices of these two agricultural products became very unbridled. That consistency can be seen in the production season as well. It was expected that after the end of the season, the prices of potatoes and onions will come down like every year.

But this picture is not seen in the market. On the contrary, the increased price of these two agricultural products. And Eid of Sacrifice is coming. At this time the demand for garlic is high in the market. The price of imported garlic is also high. Due to this, the price of local garlic is also falling, the concerned people think.

According to the market price list of the government agency Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) yesterday, potatoes are being sold at Tk 46 to Tk 50 per kg in the Dhaka market. But the price of potato in the market is 50 to 60 taka. According to TCB, at this time last year, the price of potato in the market was Tk 32 to Tk 35. As such, potatoes are being sold at twice the price per kg in the market. According to TCB, prices have increased by 43 percent.

President of Bangladesh Cold Storage Association Mostafa Azad Chowdhury toldmedia that potato cultivation was good and production was also good. Storage of potatoes in cold storage has also increased from last year. This time the farmer got a good price, that is positive. Next time they will be interested in potatoes. But at any stage, from farmers to traders, excess profits are passed on to buyers, creating instability in the market.

The government has allowed the import of potatoes to regulate the potato market. But due to the high price of potatoes in neighboring countries, importers are less interested. The Indian government has imposed a ban on onion exports. Some onions are coming from time to time on government basis. But it is less in quantity. Newly yesterday, the Indian government announced the export of 100,000 tons of onion to six countries including Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, TCB’s calculations say that domestic onion is now being sold at Tk 58 to Tk 60 per kg in the country’s market. Although the price of onion in the market is seen to increase by 5 to 10 taka. According to TCB, onions were sold at Tk 45 to Tk 50 this time last year. Accordingly, the price of onion has increased by 24 percent per kg within a year. The price of garlic produced in the country is also 42 percent higher than last year. At present, desi garlic is being sold at Tk 170 to Tk 200 per kg. Last year it was 120 to 140 taka.

Narayan Saha, a wholesale trader of Shyambazar in the capital, told media that the price of onion in the market now, considering the cost of production, cannot be said to be high. As long as the onion is in the hands of the farmer, the price will remain the same. According to him, the production of garlic in the country is less than the demand. For this, the domestic garlic market fluctuates over the imported garlic market. Imported garlic is now more expensive due to the higher dollar.