Venezuela: The price of potatoes for processing increases by 185%

The president of the Potato Growers Association (Asopapa) of the state of Carabobo, Aldemaro Ortega, said the price per kilo, for the potato processing companies, had been set at 40 bolivars.

Ortega said that the representatives of agribusiness and producers of potatoes in the states of Aragua, Carabobo and Lara had met and agreed to increase the price of a kilo of potatoes for processing from 14 bolivars to 40 bolivars this year, i.e. 26 bolivars more per kilo, which is equivalent to 185%.

The processors will also be in charge of the transportation of the tuber and will provide the bags in which they will be moved.

The president of Asopapa said the agribusinesses had committed to pay producers an advance so they could pay their workers. He noted they had also agreed to establish an early payment. "They should cancel their debts in two weeks," he said.

Ortega said the producers of potato for industrial use were satisfied with the agreements reached, which were subject to the Cost and Fair Prices Law.

We expect to reach an agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands to set the price of a kilo of fresh potatoes for domestic consumption in the coming days, he added.