Coming down heavily on the State Government for the rise of price of potato and for various problems faced by farmers, the farmers’ cell of the Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC)on Friday said the Government has completely failed in controlling the price of the tuber and providing remunerative price to farmers.
“Potato is being sold at skyrocketed price of Rs 17- Rs 18 a kg while it should be priced at Rs 3- Rs 4 during the harvesting time. Besides, farmers are harassed for being deprived of getting proper price for their produce and lack of storage facilities,” said cell chairman Amiya Patnaik.
“If this is the situation then for whom the Government has made the Potato MissionIJ” he questioned, adding that the mission has only remained in pen and paper.
He further said due to laxity in timely supply of quality potato seeds to farmers and proper training on technical skills to them, lack of coordination among the concerned department staffs and farmers and cold storages in the State, the potato production in the State has fallen.
Due to lack of vision o the Government and the inactiveness of the Horticulture Department, farmers are not getting any benefits out of the tuber mission, Patnaik added.