On 5 September, the Government raised import duties on potatoes from 15 to 30 percent of the custom value, effective until 31 October 2018. The country imports around 15 percent of its consumption requirements. The measure aims to protect local producers from low prices. Prices of potatoes, an important food staple in the country, reached a near six-year low in July after declining sharply with the 2018 harvest, estimated at around 900 000 tonnes, close to the good level of 2017.