Potato Prices in West Bengal may shoot up 50-65% by April-May

Potato prices in West Bengal may shoot up as much as 50-65% by April-May to Rs 18-20 per kg owing to an expected fall in production in West Bengal, which is said to have brought in speculators into play, raising the spectre of a spurt in food inflation. Wholesale prices have gone up 40% in the past two weeks at Delhi's Azadpur Mandi, one of the biggest vegetable markets in the country.

"While a fortnight ago the price of a kilogram of potato was hovering around Rs 3-5 per kg, it has now risen to Rs 5-7 per kg. There's a lot of speculation in the market right now," said Rajinder Sharma, general secretary of the Azadpur Potato and Onion Merchants Association, attributing it to the fears of a fall in output in West Bengal. The output in the state is expected to dip to about 108 lakh tonnes in 2016.

"The late blight disease has also affected the crop. Initially, it was estimated that nearly 15% of the total crop area of 4.25 lakh hectares has been affected. But finally the impact will be around 5-6% on production," said Patit Paban De, member, West Bengal Cold Storage Association.

The production of the tuber in Agra in Uttar Pradesh has been less than that last year, while it has been more than last year's in some other parts of the state.