Potato Prices in West Bengal inch up on crop failure in India's Southern States

Potato price in West Bengal inched up by more than Rs 200-250 a quintal over the last few days on account of a crop failure in the southern markets.

The wholesale price of the tuber (Jyoti variety) was hovering around Rs 700 a quintal on Wednesday, according to Mr Patit Paban De, Past President, West Bengal Cold Storage Association.

“The potato prices have gone up substantially over the last few days due to crop failure in the southern States, particularly Karnataka. There has been a substantial rise in demand for Bengal potatoes in these States over the last 3-4 days,” Mr De told Business Line.

Close to 5,000 tonnes were being transported from Bengal to Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka on a daily basis, he said. The prices were likely to stay firm at the current levels on account of hoarding by traders and a delay in crop in most parts of the country.

The West Bengal Government had procured 9.75 lakh tonnes through the consumer co-operatives under the West Bengal State Consumers Cooperative Federation (Confed) during this year. Close to 60 per cent of the potatoes held by the State Government has been released into the market.

Potato sowing in the country has been delayed to some extent on account of excessive rainfall in some parts (particularly the northern parts of the country) and delayed rainfall in the eastern regions of the country.

“Sowing has now started in full swing across the country. In Uttar Pradesh, close to 80 per cent of the sowing process is complete while in Bengal it has just started picking up and close to 15 per cent of the sowing has been done so far. Post November 25, things will start picking up and prices should start cooling down to some extent,” Mr De added.

Harvesting should start by the first week of December and this would bring down prices to some extent.