Supply crisis and record price hike in Algeria

The price of potatoes has risen in recent weeks, reaching about 170 dinars per kilogram in some markets, after being between 70 and 90 dinars, while disappearing from a number of shops and outlets. This crisis comes despite authorities setting an official price cap of potatoes no higher than 90 dinars per kilogram, raising questions about the effectiveness of price control and the ability of the production and distribution system to ensure the availability of basic foodstuffs.

Potato scarcity has sparked a wave of controversy on social media in Algeria, amid criticism of rising prices and supply chaos, in a country that is one of Africa's top producers of the crop.