Potato prices to come down in West Bengal on prospect of a higher South Indian crop

Potato prices in West Bengal may depreciate by 8% on the back of a better crop prospect in south India. The south Indian crop is expected to enter the market next month which is likely to push down prices at the retail level.

West Bengal is the second largest potato producer in teh country and in the current year nearly 100 lakh tonnes of potato has been harvested. Of this, nearly 55 lakh tonnes is consumed locally while the rest is sold in the neighbouring states.

Patit Paban De, a member of the West Bengal Cold Storage Association said that there has been a rise in potato sowing acreage in South India this year. "Information trickling in from south India shows that the acreage has gone up by almost 30% this year,"he said.

In south India, potato is primarily grown in the Hassan district of Karnataka. Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh also produce some quantities of potatoes. The total production of south India is around 7 lakh tonnes.

De said that the farmers in West Bengal is now getting Rs 460 per quintal for potatoes. "The wholesale prices of potato is West Bengal is currently hovering around Rs 7-8 per kg. This price is likely to come down further when potatoes from south India enter the market. The retail price which is now stands at Rs 12 per kg should come down to Rs 11 per kg in the coming months,"Mr De added.