Potato prices go north

The retail price of potato has increased by almost hundred per cent in the last two months in Kolkata. In March the price hovered around Rs 8 to 10 per kg,now it is touching Rs 15.

The retail price of potato has increased by almost hundred per cent in the last two months in Kolkata. In March the price hovered around Rs 8 to 10 per kg,now it is touching Rs 15. While the price at cold storages is Rs 1,100 a quintal,in retail market it reaches up to Rs 1,500.

During elections,thousands of workers in 400 cold storages across Bengal went to their native places to vote. Last week there was a dearth of labourers for loading and unloading potatoes that pushed the prices, said Sanatan Santra,general secretary,Aloo Byabsayee Samiti.

It could be an artificial crisis because from the wholesale market to the retailer,prices should not go up more than Rs 2 per kg, said Santra. He,however,added that in summers,when there are a few vegetables,demand for potatoes usually shoots up.

M Tebriwala,former president of West Bengal Cold Storage Owners Association and a wholeseller,said wholesale market in Tarakeshwar was expecting the hike as the potato production has been less in 2009 compared to last year.

In March 2008,the production was close to 90 lakh quintals. Due to unfavourable winter in 2008,the harvest in March 2009 was about 55 lakh quintals, said Tebriwala.

Another factor is the less area dedicated for potato farming this year. Sukumar Samanta,president of Singur Ratanpur Aloo Baybsai Samiti,said,This year in Hooghly,potato was cultivated on 5,000 hectares less area as compared to the last year.

Price has indeed gone up in the last few days. Due to the excessive heat there was a shortage of other vegetables in the market and the demand for potatoes shot up. I have called a meeting with the secretaries to discuss the issue on Wednesday, said Agricultural Marketing Minister Mortaza Hossain.

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