The West Bengal Cold Storage Association (WBCSA) has proposed to the state government a solution to counteract the soaring retail market prices of potatoes by offering to supply them at a rate of Rs 26 per kg. This proposal includes supplying potatoes of a minimum 35mm size from their Hooghly unit's cold storage facilities directly to Sufal Bangla at Rs 1,300 per 50 kg packet. The current market rate for potatoes ranges between Rs 37-40 per kg, with the cold storage price marked at Rs 28-29 per kg. The WBCSA has communicated its capacity to provide approximately 3 lakh quintals daily, which constitutes about 30% of Kolkata's daily potato requirement.
In response to the high vegetable prices, the state has taken measures including the sale of potatoes and onions at subsidized rates through Sufal Bangla outlets, with the recent opening of 25 new outlets. The high prices are partly due to reduced production and quality issues stemming from adverse weather conditions, leading to a significant portion of the potato stock being of very small size or wasted.
Consequently, despite a recorded cold storage stock of 45 lakh tonnes, the effective availability is estimated to be 30% less. The situation is exacerbated by a national production shortfall, doubling the proportion of small-sized potatoes compared to the previous year. To address these challenges, the state government, under the directive of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is taking actions including market inspections by the Agriculture Task Force and the Enforcement Department to curb hoarding and price manipulation, with a targeted resolution timeframe set for the end of the week.
[ Rs 100 = €1.10 ]
Source: telegraphindia.com