LAHORE, Dec 22: The rate of potato is persisting at Rs15 a kilo even after the arrival of fresh crop in the market, with the farmers passing the buck on market manipulation. An official of the Agri-Marketing Department, however, expects the price to fall in the next few days with bulk supplies hitting the market and sustaining the momentum for a few weeks.

“Potato is being sold at Rs6 a kilogram in Okara district, which produces 70 per cent of Punjab crop,” says Muhammad Ramzan of the area.

Potatoes are normally sold as low as Rs5 a kilogram in urban areas when fresh crop hit the market. But it is being kept high artificially as profiteers rule the urban markets, taking advantage of poor governance, he says.

He refuses to share official optimism that the price will come down in the next few days, saying it is possible only if the natural forces of demand and supply rule the market. All free markets equilibrate themselves at the end of the day, but rigged ones remain so one way or the other.

According to another official, the price has come down from Rs60 a kilogram to Rs15 because of the availability of fresh crop in the province. The price will further dip in the next few days with the fresh arrivals gaining momentum.

“No hoarder can keep the entire crop and rig the market for long and the relief will certainly appear,” he hopes.