Potato firms up on steady demand, lower output

Potato selling prices in West Bengal have firmed up by virtually 16 for every cent over the last a person thirty day period backed by steady desire and lower manufacturing of the tuber this calendar year. The wholesale cost of potato (the average Jyoti selection), which was ruling at ₹1,800-1,900 a quintal in the very first week of June, has absent up to ₹2,200 a quintal at existing.

The retail cost of the average selection (Jyoti) is ₹28 a kg, ₹3 a kg larger than the ₹25 a kg a fortnight in the past. The quality Chandramukhi selection is fetching ₹34-35 a kg (₹28 a kg a fortnight in the past).

In accordance to Patit Pavan De, Member, West Bengal Chilly Storage Affiliation, although the all round release of potatoes from chilly storages up to June end this calendar year is almost at par with last calendar year, offloading, nevertheless, was lower in the thirty day period of June. This pushed up selling prices.

Additionally, the State govt has been procuring potato for its mid-day food plan at a relatively larger cost (almost ₹3 a kg larger than its common procurement cost). This has also served selling prices to organization up.

“The lower manufacturing of potatoes, coupled with a steady desire from govt for mid-day food plan, has firmed up potato selling prices in Bengal,” De informed BusinessLine.

Potato manufacturing in West Bengal has been lower than anticipated generally thanks to the delayed sowing and the unfavourable climate conditions during harvesting. The State, which produces 110-one hundred fifteen lakh tonnes of the tuber each individual calendar year, is approximated to generate just 85-90 lakh tonnes this calendar year, lower than last year’s manufacturing of 92 lakh tonnes.

Panic obtaining

The loading in chilly storages has also been lower as in contrast to last calendar year, with only fifty five lakh tonnes (about 79 for every cent of the total ability) of potato making its way to storage units. There are close to four hundred chilly storages in Bengal and they are capable of storing shut to 70 lakh tonnes of potatoes.

The total release of potato up to June end is shut to 23 for every cent, which is at par with last calendar year. Offloading of potato normally begins only close to end April or early May well and the whole desire for the tuber is achieved as a result of direct harvest from the fields. However, this calendar year, the lower manufacturing and the larger desire from within and outside the State thanks to panic obtaining in the wake of Covid lockdown had led to offloading of potato from chilly storages in April 8-ten for every cent was released in April.

The West Bengal govt, on Tuesday, issued orders to reimpose a comprehensive lockdown throughout containment zones in Kolkata and throughout all districts of the State, suspending all functions apart from important products and services, in view of growing selection of coronavirus conditions.

This is possible to direct to a spurt in desire for the tuber, thus pushing up selling prices, a trader mentioned. West Bengal has already been witnessing a spike in desire for potato on the back again of reverse migration of personnel to the State. This apart, there has been a sensible desire coming in from Assam, Bihar and Jharkhand.