Top prices soften since early November; potato slumps by almost 24%

Retail prices of tomatoes, onions, and potatoes see a drop since early November, according to the Department of Consumer Affairs

Pradeep Sharma, a potato farmer in Agra, says the current sharp drop in prices is the handiwork of big stockists and warehouse owners who have colluded with local politicians to ensure that stocks are dumped in the market while the fresh harvest is not purchased.

Talking to Business Standard oven the phone, Sharma said potato prices had dropped by almost 50 per cent in the past 14 days and the sole reason was that owners of big cold storages and warehouse operators were unwilling to buy the crop from farmers, citing scarcity of storage space.

“The truth is somewhere in