Potato prices may fall 20% in a week

Curbs impored by West Bengal govt on potato exports had escalated tube prices in Odisha up to Rs 50 per kg

Improved supplies from Uttar Pradesh and a consignment of 1200 tonne of potato from National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (Nafed), are likely to cool prices of the essential vegetable by up to 20 per cent.

Curbs imposed by the West Bengal government on potato exports had escalated tuber prices in Odisha to up to Rs 50 per kg before the rate fell gradually to the current level of Rs 35 a kg.

“Potato prices are ruling high presently due to scarcity in supplies. But the rates will fall after the supply situation improves. In the next week, potato prices are likely to ease. The potato supplies have improved. We have started receiving potatoes from other states”, said M S Padhi, secretary, food supplies & consumer welfare.

“We have requested Nafed to supply 1200 tonne of potatoes. The Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation (OSCSC) has provided Rs one crore advance to Nafed. The potato laden trucks are expected to reach Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Puri, Sambalpur and Rourkela in next three days. In the second phase, we will urge Nafed to deliver potatoes to Bolangir, Mayurbhanj and Phulbani”, he added.

Nafed has indicated a price of Rs 25 a kg. Retail prices of potatoes sourced from Nafed are expected to be Rs  27-28 a kg.

Asked if the state government would hold further talks with West Bengal on the potato crisis, Padhi said, “There is no logic in continuing talks with the West Bengal government since they are not prepared to lift the export restriction completely. We are trying to source potatoes from alternative markets.”

A huge demand supply gap still persists in Odisha in potato supplies following West Bengal's decision to impose curbs on exports of the essential vegetable.  

While the state's average daily requirement of potatoes is around 3000 tonne, supplies are to the tune of 1000-1500 tonne only. A lion's share of this requirement is met by West Bengal.