The Bangladesh Cold Storage Association has questioned the estimates of government agencies of potato production reaching record highs this year, claiming it to be much lower. Total production will not be more than 8.5 mln tons although the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) estimates it to be 11.2 mln tons, said the association.
Two government agencies, however, said their estimates were correct. "Cold storage owners are blamed for hikes in potato prices. This is not right," said BCSA President Mostafa Azad Chowdhury at a press conference at its office in Dhaka. The trade body organized the briefing to share its views regarding hikes in the price of potato, one of the most popular vegetables, over the last two weeks.
Annual demand for the tuber in Bangladesh is around 9 mln tons and there should be a surplus of 2.2 mln tons if the DAE estimate is taken into account, said the BCSA.
"If potato production had indeed been high, where are these surplus potatoes?" asked Chowdhury, adding that 20 percent of the capacity of cold storages owned by the BSCA members have remained unutilised.
Source: thedailystar.net
