Panicky Govt seeks Nafed help
With the West Bengal Government restricting transportation of potato beyond its borders resulting in sudden rise of potato price in Odisha, the State Government on Thursday assured to ensure adequate supply of the staple tuber through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (Nafed).
Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare (FS&CW) Department Secretary Madhusudan Padhi said potato would be also provided to consumers at an affordable price through the Maitree outlets.
The decision of the WB Government to strictly regulate export of potato to other States has had an immediate effect with the number of potato-laden trucks coming to Odisha decreasing drastically. The short supply has resulted in a 75-per cent hike in the retail price of the tuber, forcing a panicky State Government to initiate fresh talks with its WB counterpart.
The potato price has shot up to Rs 35 a kg in the retail market against its availability at Rs 20 just two days ago.
“About 200 trucks have been stuck at the Sunakania check-gate on the Odisha-West Bengal border. Our Chief Secretary has also talked to the WB Chief Secretary to release the potato trucks to Odisha. I hope the problem will be over soon,” FS&CW Minister Sanjay Dasburma told reporters on Thursday.
According to the departmental data, while Odisha requires 912.859 thousand tonnes of potatoes per year, it produces no more than 201.05 thousand tonnes, a shortfall of 711.854 thousand tonnes which is met with imports from outside, primarily the neighbouring State of West Bengal.