The prices of potatoes have crashed now in Chennai
Posted on: 29/Jan/2021 9:23:10 AM
The supply of potatoes has been excess and this has resulted in the reduction in the prices of potatoes at the KWMC or Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex now. The potatoes are being sold at Rs 12 to Rs 14 per kilogram and this is the lowest ever price in the last 6 years. The prices of other vegetables also reduced on Thursday at this market.
Thirty percent of the potato sales have been to the chips manufacturers and to the hotels and restaurants etc. This was as per some market sources. The prices of potatoes on Thursday were the lowest since the year 2015. This was confirmed by Mr. V.R. Soundararajan, former member of Market Management Committee of KWMC and a wholesale trader. In the last 2 months, the prices of potatoes were hovering between Rs 20 to Rs 40 per kilo.
The shrinking demand from the chips manufacturers has been the real reason for the potato prices being lower at the wholesale market. Every day, KWMC receives about 450 to 500 tonnes of potato from states like UP and Karnataka.
Mr. S.S. Muthukumar, president of Koyambedu Semi Wholesale Markets Association, was of the view that 2 months back just half of the total quantity of potatoes arrived and this led to the increase in the prices to Rs 40 per kilogram. He added that the volume of almost all the vegetables arriving at the market has increased.
It must be noted that this market received 500 trucks ferrying 5000 to 5500 tonnes and it was higher by an average of 100 vehicles. The rates have come down due to this reason only.
Information collected is that the prices of first grade onions reduced by Rs 4 per kg than the previous week and prices of same amount of small onions reduced by Rs 10 to Rs 15.
