International Desk: In addition to everyday products, there is also instability in the potato market. As far as the retail market goes, the logical maximum price of potato per kg is Tk 46. But after changing hands 5 times from the farmer to the buyer, that potato is being sold at 70 taka. And because there is no strict action to stop the activities of the dishonest middlemen, which is gradually unbridled.

Potato

According to the Directorate of Agriculture Marketing, the production cost of potato is Rs 12 to 13 per kg. After that excluding all costs including rent of cold storage, transportation, the rational price of potatoes in the retail market stands at Tk 46. However, from the farmer to stockist, faria, artaddar, wholesaler and retail trader, that potato is going to the buyer's bag for 70 taka.

Wholesale and retail traders claim that potato storage traders and cold storage traders control the price of potatoes. Although no one wants to admit it.

Farmers say that potatoes are being sold at the rate of Tk 20 per kg, adding profit to the cost of production. On the other hand, they also complain that big businessmen store potatoes with money. However, the managers of the cold store, denied that they were involved in buying and selling potatoes. Meanwhile, the traders claim that the hoarders are earning Tk 1,500 to Tk 2,000 per bag.

Buyers and sellers believe that it is possible to bring the price of potatoes under control if the violence of the middlemen is reduced and the strict surveillance of the government is increased.

A potato trader said, 'those who stock, big traders, their manipulation increases the price of goods in the market. If the government can break this syndicate, then the price can come under control.

It is not always possible to conduct operation from cold store to market to control potato market. However, the Directorate of Consumer Rights Protection has announced that strict legal action will be taken.

Mehdi Hasan, Assistant Director of Bogra Consumer Rights Protection Directorate, said, 'Traders are storing potatoes in cold storage with false information under different names, which I have not found any truth. Fines have no effect. So we have decided that if irregularities are found, strict action will be taken including recommending the closure of the cold store.'

At least 30 varieties of potatoes are cultivated in Bogra, including Pakdi, Cardinal. Last year, 12 lakh 24 thousand metric tons of potatoes were produced from 53 thousand 215 hectares of land. The storage capacity of 42 cold storages in the district is 3 lakh 93 thousand 620 metric tons.