Given the current situation that the country is experiencing due to the increase in percentage points of inflation reaching 9.23%, which is why the prices of some foods increased, today the situation begins to change with the decrease in price of the potato in the country. According to the National Department of Statistics (Dane), regarding the first months of the year, a package of 50 kilos of papa pastusa would have shown an increase of 75%, going from $70,000 to $132,000.
(Food in Colombia: while some go up, others go down in price).
However, according to information from the Central Mayorista de Abastos, as of May 20, the behavior of food prices lowers potatoes, compared to other products in the family basket.
For the center, the common potato presented a price of $70,000 per bundle of 50 kilos, the sabanera potato $110,000 per bundle, the industrial ones are in the order of $80,000, the Creole potato around $160,000, brown pastusa potato $70,000, black r-12 potato bundle $70,000, superior potato 50-kilogram package $70,000 u and single potato 50-kilogram package $65,000.
For this reason, “Common potato farmers in Cundinamarca, Boyacá and Santander are concerned about tuber prices since, in less than a month, all varieties fell by 50%,” affirms the central capital.
(Report falls in the price of potatoes in the supply centers).
However, according to Germán Palacio, manager of the Colombian Federation of Potato Producers (Fedepapa), the price is falling, due to the fact that the country’s large harvest from the Cundiboyacense savannah is entering, which covers up to 65% of the production. national total.
For Palacio, the increases that were evident at the beginning of the year are due to the fact that the harvest in the south, in the departments Cauca, Narino and Tolimarepresent 35% of the supply, which generally increases the price of the tuber.
Additionally, as prices were high at the beginning of the semester, “many people dedicated themselves to cultivation seeing a great business opportunity,” said the manager of the federation. The foregoing would imply that the price of potatoes will continue to fall or at least remain stable.
DIANA K. RODRIGUEZ T.
