Post-harvest, potato prices have gone down sharply this year in the main growing areas, especially in West Bengal. The price of the ‘Jyoti’ variety procured directly from the farmers is currently ruling at around Rs 100 per 50-kg packet, down from Rs 190-200 per packet during this time last year. Similarly, the 'Chandramukhi' variety is ruling at around Rs 130 per 50-kg packet. During this time last year, this variety found takers at Rs 235-240 per 50-kg packet.

According to information obtained from Bardhaman and Hooghly, the two districts that account for 60 per cent of the potato produced in West Bengal, the low rates fetched by this year’s crop can be attributed to "an unusual lack of buying interest"from the trading community coupled with inadequate availability of storage space in cold storages.