WB hinges hopes on Punjab for potato supplies

West Bengal,which contributes 35 per cent to the country’s potato produce is facing a 40 per cent shortage,whereas Punjab,which contributes only five per cent produced at least 10 per cent more this time. This changed the situation,sources added.

Acute shortage of potato in West Bengal has forced the left party government to eye Punjab for purchasing potato,so that prices of potato could be controlled in the state by distributing it through PDS.

When contacted Jung Bahadur Sangha,President of POSCON,Potato Growers Association confirmed that the delegation of West Bengal government was in the city and said the deal could not be finalised due to difference of opinion in the supply rate of the commodity.

“The visiting delegation wanted us to supply three lakh tonnes of potato at the rate of Rs 12 to 13 per kilogram including freight charges,which was not possible as in Punjab itself,farmers are getting the rate of Rs 12 per kilogram”,Sangha said.

He said,the association offered them the rate of Rs 13 per kilogram without freight charges,as it costs about Rs 2.50 per kilogram as freight charges on sending the crop to West Bengal.

“We offered them that presently we will supply about 25,000 tonne of potato at the rate of Rs 13 and rate of the next installment could be decided later on according to the future fluctuation of the rate”,Sangha added.

The deal was still under consideration as the visiting delegation conveyed that the final decision would be conveyed to POSCON after having parleys at government level,Sangha said.