PARADOXY, but true: the rating of products in terms of price growth in January-April of this year (compared to December 2016) was headed by potatoes - 56 percent. More than overseas fruits, whole milk or meat products. In May, the price tag continued to grow - today in other stores a kilogram of potato, middle-aged, I note, they sell for almost 1,4 rubles. And this despite the fact that last year they collected an unprecedented harvest and in the fall they offered almost at cost - for 20 cents, and sometimes even less. Why did this happen? Where did the cheap product go?
The PRICE LIST is really not happy. In Moscow stores, the cost of Belarusian potatoes reaches 1,4, in the most popular Komarovsky market - 1,2 rubles. What is the situation in the districts and rural areas? Belkoopsoyuz commented: potatoes from the stabilization funds, purchased during the harvesting season in 2016, are sold in consumer cooperation at 45-57 kopecks per kilogram. In addition, potatoes from the previous harvest, purchased this year, are also presented on the shelves - 67-90 kopecks per kilogram.
The Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade confirmed that retail prices for potatoes have risen. But this, experts are sure, is not surprising. A similar picture is observed annually and is due mainly to increased costs for the storage of agricultural products. The agency also cited figures: prices for potatoes of the 2016 harvest range from 0,64 to 2,20 rubles per kilogram (according to monitoring by the main department of the consumer market of the Minsk city executive committee). Differentiation depends on the supplier, the price requested by him, the terms of delivery.
An interesting point: fresh potatoes are included in the list of socially significant goods, the prices of which, if necessary, are regulated by the regional executive committees and the Minsk city executive committee. No more than 90 days in one year. Maybe there is such a need already? Still, in some stores, the price tag for potatoes is off scale. Tatiana Shevtsova, Head of the Main Department of Trade and Services of the Minsk Regional Executive Committee, explains:
- Today prices for any group of food products are not regulated by markups. The situation for potatoes is not critical, and there is no need to introduce price regulation now. In the Minsk region, the average price for potatoes is 0,63, in the republic - 0,84 rubles. The increase in vegetable prices during this period is absolutely normal, which is associated with seasonality. In addition, when compiling statistics, no breakdown is made by categories, what kind of potatoes they are - young, last year, Belarusian or imported. Prices are simply taken into account. Now the shops have already started selling imported new potatoes. Its cost is very high, and this also affects the overall statistics.
- And if you compare the situation with last year?
- In March, potatoes were cheaper than in the same month last year. In April - a little more expensive than in the same period in 2016. But here inflation played a role. At the same time, I note that no leap is observed - in general, in the region, food prices in four months rose by only 2,18 percent. Although, according to the forecast, this figure was larger.
NEXTLINE, some experts say that not only seasonality is due to the increase. The deputy director general for scientific work of the Scientific and Practical Center of the NAS of Belarus for potato and fruit and vegetable growing Vadim Makhanko, for example, has another explanation of the situation:
- A sharp demand led to an increase in prices. And it’s not from the Belarusian buyer, but from our neighbors - about 90 percent of the food potato goes precisely to the Russian market. In addition, demand from Uzbekistan was added. Last year there was no such situation. Yes, in Russia in 2016 there was a good harvest, but they did not have time to harvest it - it rained heavily, frosts started early. Because now there is a shortage in the market. But early potatoes have already gone from the south of Russia, so in the near future we can expect its appearance on the shelves and a drop in prices.
- And when will Belarusian new potatoes appear in stores?
- It used to be at the beginning of June, but this year due to weather conditions the dates have moved. I think they will start selling it around the middle of the month.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food said that 37,4 thousand hectares were allotted for potatoes this year in the republic’s farms. Farmers are also engaged in its cultivation. Only in the Sula peasant farm of the Stolbtsovsky district under it 750 hectares. Head of the economy Vladimir Radevich clarifies the situation from his point of view:
- Over the past few years there has been no normal price for potatoes, because the area has been significantly reduced. Last fall, it came to the point that they gave 12 kopecks per kilogram. Engaging in its cultivation was simply unprofitable. Today, potato profitability starts after $ 120 per ton. Reducing the area and led to the fact that now we are seeing a deficit. And there are no early Belarusian potatoes on the shelves yet - spring is cold. Hence the prices. Last year’s last shipment was shipped back in early April. Today the warehouses are empty, we will get a new crop around the second half of August.
If the area under potatoes in agricultural organizations has decreased over the past ten years, then in farms it has grown - from 3,5 to 14,5 thousand hectares. And they began to produce more: the gross harvest in agricultural organizations and peasant farms increased from 685,7 to 1144,7 thousand tons. Another issue is the correct distribution of this stock, and with this, judging by the current situation, there are still problems.
Source: https://www.sb.by