Cold storage members voices concerns over potato market price, losses
The Statesman | 26 July 2025
The West Bengal Cold Storage Association today held a press conference at the Press Club, Kolkata, to draw the attention of the govt. consumers, and the general public to the large gap in price of potato at the wholesale and retail markets in West Bengal and the negative impact on the farmers as well as the cold storage industry. The meet was attended by Sunil Kumar Rana, president of WBCSA; Subhajit Saha, vice president of WBCSA; Tarun Kanti Ghosh and many others.
In this year, 70.85 lakh metric tonnes of potato was stored in the cold storages of West Bengal, potato production has traditionally been consumed in a 60:40 ratio, with 60 per cent consumed within the state and the remaining 40 per cent traded with other states. But due to the ban on the inter-state movement of potato in last season, approx 10 lakh metric tonnes of potato of early variety, was also stored in cold storages, that’s why cold storages are record loaded.
Considering the situation the state govt. declared minimum support price of Rs 9/kg for the farmers. Being encouraged with the government declaration the farmers sold the harvested crop as well as preserved some of their stock for selling in future. About 75 per cent to 80 per cent of the stock preserved this season belongs to the farmers.
At the start of the unloading season (in the month of May’ 25), the released stock was trading at the govt. declared minimum support price of Rs 15/kg but within 2 weeks gradually it came down to Rs 11/kg to Rs 12/kg (for dala quality at Singur wholesale market) in Hooghly District & Rs 9/kg to 10/kg (for average quality) in Burdwan, Bankura, Medinipur districts & North Bengal in the cold storage gate ( i.e. – wholesale price). This situation is hurting the farmers directly as they are subjected to a loss of Rs 400 to Rs 500 per quintal.