Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, April 25: A significant gap has emerged between wholesale and retail potato prices in Jamshedpur, raising concerns among consumers. While the wholesale price per quintal stood at Rs 2350 on Thursday, retail rates hovered around Rs 30 per kilogram at most outlets, representing a stark difference of seven rupees per kilogram.
Just two days prior, the wholesale price was Rs 2700 per quintal, with retail prices at Rs 35 per kilogram. Despite this decrease in wholesale rates, many retailers have maintained the higher retail price of Rs 35 per kilogram.
Retailers attribute this discrepancy to the recent elections, citing vehicle seizures as a reason for increased transportation costs. However, wholesale traders argue that the price hike was prompted by potato shortages among farmers, exacerbated by closed cold storage facilities.
With the reopening of cold storage facilities on Thursday, the situation is expected to normalize. However, the district administration’s focus on the ongoing elections has hindered efforts to address the issue of price disparities effectively.