Punjab potato likely to cool down Kol prices in 2 weeks
Times of India | 30 November 2024
123 Kolkata: The arrival of Punjab potatoes in Bengal markets by the second week of December is expected to ease soaring potato prices, currently at Rs 34 per kg. With supplies from Uttar Pradesh following closely, prices may dip below Rs 25 per kg by mid-Jan, when Bengal's new crop hits the markets. However, a bumper crop in Bengal could lead to a distress sale, causing a further price dip, said a potato wholesaler at the Ratanpur potato trade hub.
The state govt previously mandated a price reduction to Rs 28-29 per kg, but traders failed to comply, prompting the govt to sell subsidised potatoes through its Sufal Bangla stores. As prices remain high, authorities are now taking strict measures to regulate inter-state transportation to ensure adequate local supply. On Wednesday, West Bengal police initiated border checks at stations near Odisha, including Belda and Dantan, following a govt directive to curb the export of potatoes to other states. Many potato-laden trucks were sent back during these checks.
Barun Pandit, the district secretary of the Potato Traders' Association in West Midnapore, stated that nearly 100 trucks bound for Odisha and Jharkhand were halted on national highways, creating challenges for traders and farmers alike. Administrative orders have also restricted the release of potatoes from cold storage facilities during the ongoing planting season.
"This restriction is a setback for farmers and traders. Lower-grade potatoes, unsuitable for Kolkata markets, are usually exported to other states. Without that option, we are facing significant losses," Pandit said. A recent meeting at Nabanna discussed measures to address the potato crisis, but the renewed export restrictions have worsened the situation.