TEHRAN, Iran, Nov.28
Trend:
It has been predicted that potato production in Iran would be reduced in the next Iranian year (starts March 21, 2021) due to an increase in production costs, said the head of the National Potato Association
"It is predicted that cultivation of potato would be reduced due to increase of production costs including price of a bag, box, pesticide, fertilizer, transportation, worker's salaries, renting land and warehouse and low price of purchase guarantee," said Rahim Niyazi, Trend reports citing YJC.
"Purchase guarantee price of potato is lower than other products such as colza, wheat, and beet that would have an important effect on reducing production in the next Iranian year (starts March 21, 2021)
Niyazi pointed out that high production costs and low purchase guarantee price is not sufficient for production. Devaluation of national currency and farmers' economic power has reduced interest to cultivate potatoes.
According to him, Agriculture Bank has acted contractionary as the agent bank in the current Iranian year (started March 20, 2020) and farmers could not profit from advances that have reduced household income.
"Weak supervisions and unfairness of some sellers caused the price of potato to multiply that damaged low-income class and farmers," he noted.
"The current price of potato per kilo is 16,000 rial (about 38 cents) to 28,000 rial (about 66 cents) but due to disagreements the price has drastically increased for consumers," he added.