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The Government of El Salvador, through the Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería (MAG), announced the establishment of a fixed-price potato sales point in Sonsonate as a measure to counteract abusive practices detected in the marketing of this product.
The information was released by the MAG’s Vice Minister ad honorem, Oscar Domínguez, who indicated that some national and foreign merchants were engaging in actions that distort the market and harm both producers and consumers.
As part of this measure, a sales point was opened today in front of Megaplaza Sonsonate, where the public can purchase potatoes at a price of US$50 per quintal or US$0.50 per pound. According to authorities, this mechanism will remain in effect for as long as necessary to guarantee fair prices and prevent unjustified price increases.
Domínguez called on producers not to allow intermediaries, middlemen, or resellers to exploit their work through speculative practices that distort normal market behavior. He also acknowledged that some merchants conduct their business responsibly and transparently.
The official emphasized that market behavior is a shared responsibility among all actors in the supply chain and stated that state institutions will maintain constant vigilance to prevent price gouging.
According to the Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería (MAG), daily inspections are currently being carried out at various points of sale with the support of several government agencies. These actions involve the Dirección General de Aduanas, Defensoría del Consumidor, Policía Nacional Civil (PNC) and Fiscalía General de la República (FGR), which are working in coordination to verify compliance with regulations and detect any irregularities.
The deputy minister also indicated that merchants in MercadoLa Tiendona, its annex, and surrounding areas have already agreed to maintain prices considered fair for the product. In this regard, authorities warned potato vendors in Sonsonate to avoid practices that could harm consumers or lead to unjustified price increases.
The authorities stated that the goal of these actions is to protect the population’s purchasing power and ensure that agricultural products reach consumers at reasonable prices, especially when market distortions are detected.
Furthermore, they warned that if these practices persist and are not corrected, the government could adopt additional measures to intervene directly in the market to protect the population and ensure fairer trading conditions.
With the establishment of this sales point, the Executive Branch seeks to stabilize potato prices in Sonsonate, support producers, and guarantee that consumers have access to the product at affordable prices.
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