Consumers are forking out up to R70 more for a 10kg pocket of UTD potatoes
Mutton curry with gravy soakers, fish and chips, or melting yellow potato curry, any which way, potatoes are a staple in most homes.
But now forking out an extra R60 to R70 for a 10kg bag of up-to-date (UTD) potatoes is taking its toll on the purse strings.
Neraksha Singh, a manager at a fresh produce outlet in Durban, said they sourced potatoes from suppliers from around Durban and in Johannesburg.
“About six months ago, 10kg of UTD potatoes cost between R70 and R100. We are currently buying them at R160 from suppliers and selling them at R180. The prices rose due to the recent snow storm that damaged the crops," said Singh.
Patricia Thandroyan, an employee at UNL Fresh Produce, a private market in Clairwood, said:
"Two to three years ago, you would pay less than R90 for 10kg UTD potatoes. Now it is scarce because there are no seeds for plantation. That's why the prices are high.
“Currently, the normal Mondial and Valor potatoes range in price between R60 and R90 for a 10kg bag. The price was higher earlier. UTD potatoes are R160 at the market. If the weather becomes erratic again, the price would be affected."
Pat Govender, a farmer from Umkomaas, said 10kg UTD potatoes sold for R170.
“There was a shortage from Limpopo due to the black frost as a result of the weather,” he said.
Graeme Jarvie, a partner at Golden Grow, which is involved in the plantation of potatoes in KZN said: "These high prices are normal. It will drop just as fast as it went up. In agriculture there will be a long period of time where produce is cheaper and then it will spike. It is a good thing because then more produce will be cultivated to meet the demand, so the prices can remain lower for a longer time."
He said last year there was a decrease in the supply due to load shedding.
"Farmers had supply issues because load shedding affected the irrigation systems. This year, although there was no load shedding, farmers anticipated it and lowered their production yields.
"Another problem is that there is a huge shortage in potato seed as the process to produce more is complex. That is why the potato production has been slower and we have had a hike in prices."
Jarvie said only a third of the price they paid for potatoes went to farmers.
"Additional mark-ups are done by retailers because of their expenses."
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