Why does the price of potatoes in Azerbaijan increase 6 times from field to counter?

A kilogram of potatoes, which is currently sold in markets and stores at a price of two manats twenty qapiks, costs the farmer only thirty to thirty-five qapiks.

This was reported to the publication Qaynarinfo by a farmer from the Tovuz district, Khalid Rzayev, commenting on the sharp rise in prices for one of the main food products.

The main reason for such a significant difference in cost lies in the large number of intermediaries between the producer and the end consumer.

"Before potatoes reach the counter, they pass through many hands. First, they are bought from the farmer by a wholesale buyer, who then resells the product at the Meyvəli market. From there, potatoes are distributed to various retail chains. As a result, stores have no direct connection with producers," explains Khalid Rzayev.

In his opinion, if retail chains purchased potatoes directly from farms, prices would be much more affordable for the population. After all, in this case, only one company would make a profit, not several intermediaries. The current situation has led to more and more farmers abandoning potatoes as an unprofitable crop.

"We have more than a hundred hectares of land suitable for growing potatoes. But when you see that agricultural products that you sell for thirty-five qapiks cost two manats on the shelf, you lose all desire to engage in this. It turns out that we do all the work, and others get the profit," the farmer notes bitterly.