East Burdwan started releasing stranded potato packets from its 101 cold storages aiming to bring down the prices at Rs 26 per kg in the retail markets from tomorrow.
East Burdwan, senior officials said, currently has a stock of 633967.65 MT of potatoes and till Wednesday evening 425.25 MT had been disbursed. The district authorities have engaged 121 SHG (self-help groups) and six farmer’s societies for the smooth navigation of the packets to the vendors. “We’ve kept strong surveillance on the groups and persons to prevent any malpractice in the process and the market price as well,” said S Radhika Aiyar, DM, East Burdwan today.
Due to the favourable agro-climatic zones, Hooghly, Burdwan, and West Midnapore districts are the leading producers of potatoes in West Bengal. Bengal, country’s second largest potato grower after Uttar Pradesh, produces an average 1,26,00,000 MT of potato annually. UP’s production in 2021 was 1,58,92,000 MT and Bihar, produced 91,25,000 MT. The potato grower’s body caused the recent stalemate in retail market supply after the Bengal government restricted supply of potato to Bihar.