Yangon wholesale market unset Shan potato prices on poor supply

The low supply of potatoes from Shan State pushed Yangon’s wholesale centre not to set the price in July and the prices of only Chinese potatoes were shown between 11 and 29 July, U Zaw Wai, a trader from Laputta, told the Global New Light of Myanmar (GNLM).
The price of Chinese potato touched a high of K3,000 per viss on 11-13 July and declined to K2,700 on 29 July.
Despite the lack of an official set price, potato from Shan State (Aungban) was priced at K2,150-2,600 per viss depending on sizes at some depots.
The consumers’ demand for potatoes from Shan State falters due to low quality presently.
Potatoes imported by China via the border directly flowed into the Yangon market in the previous years. This year, it was sent via Mandalay market, according to depots on Yetama Street (Bayintnaung).
Potatoes from the Sinphyukyun area entered the Yangon market before the Thingyan period. They are grown in October and November and harvested in January and February.
There is no supply of potatoes from the Tatkon and Loikaw areas to Yangon this year. Some potato chip businesses make direct purchase orders from regions outside Yangon rather than buying from Bayintnaung Wholesale Centre, said a trader engaged in the Yangon market.
Of kitchen dry groceries, onions are grown in the country twice a year. Export volume has achieved 100,000 tonnes of onions per year. With the price of locally produced onions rocketing, cheaper onions from China market enter the domestic market.
The harvest time of potatoes varies depending on the growing areas. Yet, the supply is extremely low in July 2023, prompting the wholesale centre not to reveal the price.
Thus, high-quality potato is suggested to boost the yield and cut potato imports from foreign markets. — TWA/EM