The price of potatoes has doubled across various regions of Kazakhstan. The cost per kilogram now reaches 400 tenge or more, reports Tengrinews.kz correspondent.
In the country's regions, the price of one of the most popular products – potatoes – has surged.
In Aktobe, at the beginning of January, the price per kilogram was no more than 200 tenge. Over the past week, the price has doubled. Today, supermarkets are asking for 388 tenge per kilogram. However, the product does not look appealing: many tubers are spoiled.
5In Aktobe supermarkets, a kilogram of potatoes costs 388 tenge / Photo ©️ Tengrinews.kz
Local stores also sell spoiled potatoes, charging 400 tenge per kilogram. Vendors explain that each batch of the product arrives at a higher cost than the last.
"We don't even know what price we will get the potatoes at next time. For example, today I bought them for 360 tenge per kilogram – that's the wholesale price. My markup is only 20 percent. This means I will sell them for 420 tenge. This is Karaganda potatoes. There are local ones too, but they are much worse, although just 15 tenge cheaper," says a tenant of one of the grocery stores.
6Potatoes in a local store in Aktobe / Photo ©️ Tengrinews.kz
According to officials, potatoes in the Aktobe region are primarily supplied from Pavlodar, Karaganda, Kostanay regions, and Russia. For this reason, pricing depends on the producers, as explained by the akimat.
"Currently, there is a ban on potato exports from the Russian Federation. In this regard, to ensure the population has access to potatoes at affordable prices, 100 tons of potatoes are sent weekly from the stabilization fund to local retail networks and the municipal market at a price of 116-119 tenge per kilogram," reported the akimat of the Aktobe region.
In the Zhetysu region, known for potato farming, prices have exceeded 400 tenge. However, the quality is significantly better than the potatoes available on the shelves in Aktobe.
7In Zhetysu, the price of potatoes has exceeded 400 tenge / Photo ©️ Tengrinews.kz
In Pavlodar, the market price for homemade potatoes is 400 tenge per kilogram. In local stores, the "second bread" is sold for 320 tenge per kilogram. In the outskirts of Pavlodar, potatoes cost 350 tenge. The regional entrepreneurship and industrial development department reported that a shipment of potatoes from Georgia arrived in early January, retailing from 250 tenge and up.
"The stabilization fund in the region has about 4,000 tons of potatoes, which are sold in social stores and at the Pavlodar farmers' market. In the coming days, potatoes from the stabilization fund are expected to arrive at large supermarket chains. Local farms are also supplying potatoes to social stores under a previously signed memorandum. Considering transportation costs, the price is 120-140 tenge per kilogram," the department stated.
8The price of potatoes in the outskirts of Pavlodar reaches 350 tenge per kilogram / Photo ©️ Tengrinews.kz
In Kyzylorda, Pavlodar potatoes are sold for 360 tenge per kilogram. In social stores, the local product costs 135 tenge.
9Vegetable section in a Kyzylorda store / Photo ©️ Tengrinews.kz
In the East Kazakhstan region, the price for a kilogram of potatoes has reached 446 tenge.
0In VKO, the price for a kilogram of potatoes reaches 446 tenge / Photo ©️ Tengrinews.kz
The most expensive potatoes, it turns out, are sold in Astana. A kilogram of premium potatoes in stores is priced at 455 tenge. In some retail outlets, the product is either out of stock or only leftovers are available.
1 A kilogram of premium potatoes in Astana stores costs 455 tenge / Photo ©️ Tengrinews.kz
Previously, we wrote about what would happen if one never ate potatoes again.