Retailing at Rs 38/kg, potato continues to pinch pockets, sends Kolkata kitchen budgets haywire
Times of India | 12 July 2024
KOLKATA: Households in the city are feeling the pinch as potato prices continue to rise. With the widely available Jyoti variety now retailing at Rs 35-Rs 38 a kg, up from Rs 20 a kg a month ago, the Rs 10-Rs 15 a kg price gap with the more premium Chandramukhi has now reduced to Rs 5. Traders attributed the rise in price to the demand-supply gap exacerbated by weather fluctuations that delayed seed sowing and created a production gap.
Climate change has disrupted potato cultivation in Bengal.Untimely rains damaged the first batch of sown seeds, forcing farmers to replant. But the second sowing has not alleviated their woes: the new crop is smaller in size and lower in yield this year.
Some traders believe the current retail prices could be reduced slightly. Before the elections, the retail price of Jyoti was Rs 27-Rs 28 per kg. Traders claim that when potatoes were initially put in cold storage, the market price was Rs 16-Rs 17 per kg. After the cold storage period ended, it rose to Rs 22 per kg, with additional costs, including storage rent of Rs 6-Rs 7 per kg.
According to Cold Storage Association sources, 67 lakh tonnes of potatoes were stored in the state last year. Currently, 45 lakh tonnes are stored in 475 cold storages across the state, with a current requirement of 700,000 tonnes, and 500,000 tonnes reserved for seeds. The Progressive Potato Traders Association claimed that at least 1%-2% more potatoes are being released from cold storage compared to other years. The state secretary of the association, Lalu Mukhopadhyay, said, "Wholesale prices are correct but retail prices need attention."
The state president of Cold Storage Owners' Association, Baren Mondal, said, "If the govt believes there is a tendency to hoard potatoes, it can investigate further."
Farmer Kesab Ghosh said, "I sowed twice but the second crop yielded smaller potatoes and production decreased."
Patit Paaban De, a merchant and cold storage owner who recently met the CM, told TOI: "We requested the govt to buy the smaller potatoes mixed in the 50 kg packets."
Traders said due to rising prices, cold storages were opened 15 days earlier than scheduled, in the third week of April. Despite this, wholesale prices were uncontrolled. Now, potatoes are being sold from cold storage at Rs 26-Rs 28 per kg. These then pass thr-ough major wholesalers and local traders before reaching retail vendors. In this process, small, medium and poor-quality potatoes are sorted out, further driving up prices.
A Koley Market retail trader said, "We are bringing selected potatoes from Hooghly and Burdwan. Good quality ones are costing more."