Transport subsidy for Bengal potato farmers

The West Bengal government has decided to give transport subsidy of Rs 40 crore to potato traders in West Bengal, in view of bumper potato crop this year.

This is in addition to Rs 30 crore that the government had earlier earmarked for buying potato through various state marketing bodies like West Bengal State Cooperative Marketing Federation (Benfed).

According to Mortaja Hossain, minster in-charge of agri-marketing, West Bengal, the transport concession, which has been applicable over roughly last 15 days, along with the initiatives of Benfed, resulted in releasing about 22.26 lakh metric tonne of potato from cold storages, against 17.40 metric tonne in the same period time last year.

Also, the state has been able to sent 8.90 lakh metric tonne of potato outside the state this year, against 7.83 lakh metric tonne last year.

Meanwhile, the West Bengal cold Storage Association is planning to launch a state-wide awareness campaign to popularise the consumption of potatoes by highlighting its importance as a cheap and nutrient-rich food item.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA), Kolkata, will support the programme. The association has also commissioned a short documentary to highlight the health benefits of potatoes.

According to Patit Paban De, president, West Bengal cold Storage Association, the association will soon sign an MoU with the state marketing board, with assistance from the National Horticulture Board, for promoting potatoes.

West Bengal has produced 8.8 million metric tonne of potatoes this year, an increase of 25 per cent over last year. The West Bengal government's support price for potato at the time of laoding was Rs 250 per quintal, and at the cold storage the price was Rs 300 per quintal.

At present, the farmers are getting between Rs 140-160 per quintal The collective loss of those associated with the commodity would be Rs 750 crore, said De.