Bengal potato output likely to be 15% lower

Potato production in West Bengal is likely to be lower by 10-15 per cent on ‘late blight’ in a quarter of the growing districts.

Prices, down after a rise in November-December, have gone up Rs 50-75 a quintal in recent few days.

“The disease has spread to 25 per cent of the growing area. This could bring down the yield 10-15 per cent,” said Patit Paban De, member, West Bengal Cold Storage Association.

The state produces 10 million tonnes a year. Only 5.5 million are domestically consumed. It ranks second in production, Uttar Pradesh being first.

The Hooghly district accounts for the highest production in the state, followed by Paschim Medinipur, Bardhaman, Bankura and Jalpaiguri. The disease has hit Paschim Medinipur, Bankura and Jalpaiguri, according to De. About 75 per cent of the production in the state comes from these five.

About two months back, a shortage had led to a huge rise in prices. The state did direct procurement and sale at Rs 13 a kg, banned exports and stated a deadline to vacate cold storages. In September, farmers in Bengal were selling at Rs 4 a kg, a loss of Rs 1 a kg. After floods and rain in October, prices started moving up. These reached a record at Rs 900 a quintal. Prices came down to a normal level of Rs 500 a quintal by January, with the arrival of new crop.

At present, prices are between Rs 550 and Rs 625 a quintal against Rs 500 a quintal a year ago. Growing is risky for farmers. Suicides and distress sales are not new in the growing season. The reason is poor infrastructure and marketing. With 10 million tonnes, the storage in the state is five million.

While a handful of rich farmers in Paschim Medinipur, Bardhaman and Hooghly can afford to pay for the transportation and rent of cold storage, a large number depend on middlemen to sell their produce. With the cost of production at Rs 5 a kg, the rent for keeping a kg in cold storage is a third of the total cost at Rs 2 a kg.

Most crop is harvested between January and March, with a smaller, early crop harvested in November and December. Between April and October, demand is met mainly through cold storages.