Chile: The serious distortion between the price received by farmers and the price paid by consumers for potatoes continues.

The serious distortion between the price received by farmers and the price paid by consumers for potatoes is beyond unfair. While producers receive a mere $3,000 to $4,000 for a 25 kg bag, consumers face much higher prices at retail, which can reach ten times this price. 

This imbalance has economic and social consequences. When agricultural activity is unprofitable, producers are forced to abandon cultivation. This reduces supply, pushes up prices, and generates food insecurity, triggered by potential shortages. We’re not talking about just any product: potatoes are a staple food, a cross-cutting staple, present on every table, especially in the most vulnerable households.

The imbalance between the prices received by farmers and those paid by the final consumer benefits a few and harms many. In the agricultural sector, we have not only insisted on more and better information about the value chain, but also on mechanisms that promote greater innovation.

Let’s not forget that the potato represents more than just a nutritious crop for humans: it is also the result of rural labor, food security, and local economy.