Prices of new potatoes have suddenly risen in Dinajpur's markets, increasing demand for old potatoes, whose price has not changed.

This was seen in various markets in Dinajpur on 11 January. New potatoes were selling at Tk 30 to Tk 45 a kg depending on type, and old potatoes at Tk 12 a kg. In neighbourhood shops, new potatoes were selling at Tk 40 to Tk 60 a kg depending on variety.

Farmers and traders blame the price rise on a shortage of labourers to harvest potatoes in the bitter cold and fog.

According to the weather office, a mild cold wave has gripped Dinajpur district for seven days in a row. With day and night temperatures close together, it feels bitterly cold. People cannot do any work properly in the bone-chilling cold, and working in open fields has become even harder, leading to a shortage of farm labour. Not enough workers can be found to lift early potatoes, so the harvest has fallen short of demand. What is harvested is loaded on to trucks and sent to Dhaka, so supply in Dinajpur's markets has fallen and many vegetable shops have no new potatoes. Taking advantage of this, prices have risen by Tk 10 to Tk 25 a kg depending on variety.

Staris 7 potatoes are selling at Tk 30 a kg, up from Tk 15 two days ago; deshi round potatoes at Tk 35 to Tk 45, up from Tk 25; and white Chollisha potatoes at Tk 40, up from Tk 25 to Tk 30 two days ago. Bina Seven, Sunshine and deshi Shakhita potatoes are selling at Tk 40 to Tk 45 a kg, and neighbourhood grocers are charging Tk 40 to Tk 60 a kg.

Jewel Islam, a farmer in Ghughudanga village in Sadar upazila, said field prices have not risen as much as market prices. In the field, potatoes sell for at most Tk 20 depending on variety, and the price doubles as they change hands.

Amir Hamza, a grocer in the Uposhohor area, said market prices have risen, so shops are buying high and selling high. He was selling white Chollisha potatoes at Tk 50 a kg that day.

Many wholesale potato shops at Bahadur Bazar, the town's largest fresh produce market, were closed. Supply has fallen, so potatoes are selling at higher prices. There are no new potatoes below Tk 30 a kg, so people are being forced to buy old potatoes.

A buyer named Rupam said that because new potatoes were expensive, he bought 5 kg of old potatoes for Tk 60.

Wholesale potato trader Azahar Ali said farmers cannot lift potatoes because of the cold, so there is no supply in the market, and big traders are trying to keep Dhaka's big traders supplied with whatever potatoes they get. Prices have risen because supply is short, and buyers' demand is being met with old potatoes. Although new potato prices have risen, old potato prices have not, and they are still selling at Tk 12 a kg retail.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.