Potato traders in West Bengal have decided to continue their indefinite strike starting Monday night, following an unsuccessful meeting with state Agriculture Minister Becharam Manna. The West Bengal Progressive Potato Traders' Association, responsible for the strike, has expressed its determination to proceed with its actions due to the lack of assurances from the minister regarding the lifting of restrictions on potato exports to other states. Despite the strike, there has been no communication from the state government on when these restrictions might be lifted.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in a statement to the Assembly, affirmed the government's stance to prioritize internal demands over the export of potatoes and onions to other states. This decision by the traders to persist with the strike raises concerns over potential price hikes for potatoes in West Bengal, where prices for popular varieties 'Jyoti' and 'Chandramukhi' are already elevated, ranging between $0.42 and $0.50 per kilogram.
This marks the second strike by the potato traders in just over three months, under the guidance of the Progressive Potato Traders' Association. An association representative highlighted the discrepancy between the current stock of 650,000 metric tons of potatoes in cold storage and the state's December requirement of 300,000 metric tons, labeling the export restrictions as irrational.
Source: SambadEnglish