Potato Prices Plunge In Peshawar, Farmers Struggle Despite Public Relief

At the vegetable market on Phandu Road in Peshawar, an unusual drop in potato prices is currently being witnessed. Farmer Najeeb Khan says this is the first time potato prices have fallen so sharply.

He acknowledges that the biggest benefit is going to the public, but he also stresses that the condition of farmers should not be ignored, as they are facing serious difficulties due to the low rates.

According to Najeeb Khan, the current prices are causing heavy losses to the farming community. He says the situation is such that growers are unable to even recover their production costs. Many farmers had hoped that prices would improve during Ramadan, but instead, rates declined further.

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Although there is a large supply of potatoes in the market, purchasing is not happening at the expected pace despite the low prices.

Another farmer associated with potato cultivation, Misbah, says that since the closure of the Torkham border, vegetable prices have dropped significantly.

According to him, a large quantity of vegetables used to be exported to Kabul.

He recalls that during last Ramadan, potatoes were selling for Rs140 to Rs150 per kilogram, providing farmers with good profits. However, this year, even the best-quality potatoes are being sold for just Rs30 per kilogram.

Misbah says he is happy that the public is getting affordable vegetables, but the issue should not be viewed from only one perspective.

Farmers prepared the crop with hard work and expenses, yet they have not received a fair return.

Another farmer, Inam Jan, said that if potato prices remain this low, growers may reduce potato cultivation in the coming days.

He added that people make decisions based on profit and loss, and if losses continue, farmers may move away from this crop.

A customer at the vegetable market, Mudassar Hussain, told TNN that potatoes are a vegetable with no substitute.

He said he never imagined that during Ramadan, high-quality potatoes would be available at Rs30 per kilogram. In his view, a major reason for this is the closure of the Torkham border, which has increased supply in the local market.

Another citizen, Ahmed Jan, said it would not be wrong to call potatoes the“king of vegetables.” According to him, dozens of dishes are prepared with potatoes, and they are an essential part of countless meals.

He added that this time, people are freely buying and consuming more potatoes due to their low price.

This situation has become a relief for the public on one hand, but a serious problem for farmers on the other. If price stability is not achieved, it may affect future crop cultivation.

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