TAD NewsDesk, New Delhi: Due to a very good rabi harvest, potato prices in India have reached an all time low of Rs 5-6/kg in both producing and consuming areas.
While consumers are very happy with the lowkey availability of one of the most important staple food in everyone’s kitchen, the farmers are struggling to even recover the production cost.
As per the analysis of data on potato prices maintained by the Food Processing Ministry, the wholesale rates in 25 out of 60-odd key producing areas spread over Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Bihar were ruling 50 per cent lower on March 20 when compared to the year-ago period.
Wholesale prices of potato on March 20 had set a new benchmark as went lower even then three years’ average at Rs 6 per kg in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh and in Deesha, Gujarat.
Following are the prices of potato in different states on March 20:
- Rs 8-9 per in Uttar Pradesh
- Rs 5 per kg in Amritsar (Punjab)
- Rs 17 per kg in Chennai
Speaking to Consumer Affairs Secretary Leena Nandan said,
“We track prices from the consumer side. There is a very good potato harvest in line with what’s been anticipated this time. There is good arrival in the mandi and retail prices are very good for consumers.”
Mr Nandan said that the agriculture ministry might be working on some proposal to work the issue out.
India produces around 50 million tonnes of potato annually from an average area of 21 lakh hectares with average yield of 22-24 tonnes per hectare, as per the agriculture ministry data.
The government needs to help the farmers out so that they can at least get back their production cost and some profit.
Source: The Economic Times
