Worried at the huge prospective loss, potato growers of the state have sought help from the Punjab government in the shape of a minimum sale price for the crop and subsidy on the transportation of potatoes in domestic markets.
"This is after almost seven years that the prices of potato in state have fallen to such a level (to Rs 1.5 to Rs 2 per kg) due to bumper output...and farmers are not even able to recover their cost of production,"Jalandhar Potato Growers Association General Secretary Jaswinder Singh said today.
Farmers had been getting Rs 6-8 per kg after the fresh arrival of the crop during this month every year, he said, adding, "the current situation appears to be akin to the one that prevailed in 2001 state potato growers threw their crop on roads ..."
