Despite West Bengal banning potato export from August 1 from the state with an aim to check price, there has been no impact on price in the state market.
“Potato wholesale price has inched upwards since last month and the trend remains same even in August. Since last Friday, wholesale price of the regular variety potato has moved upwards by Rs 60 to Rs 730-Rs 740 per 50 kg packet,” market sources said.
“Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on August 1 review meeting found potato prices have not eased in line with other vegetables despite requesting cold storages to release potato. So, she has directed to stop potato export from the state unless it comes to maximum Rs 12 a kg,” Agri Marketing Minister Arup Roy told PTI.
At present, retail potato price in city markets is Rs 15 a kg.
But, traders in Bengal remained upbeat with lower production in country’s largest potato producer Uttar Pradesh. Reports of lower production in south India due to lower rain will also keep prices firm, they expected.
“Potato will move out of the state. If the state does not allow officially then it will go through black market route to (places like) UP where the potato price have already touched Rs 25 a kg,” potato traders said.
Roy expected prices will ease shortly and administration will do the needful to check outgo of the crop from the state.
Forum of Traders Organisation General Secretary Rabindranath Koley said so far just 30 per cent of the potato is released from cold storages and this had to be offloaded before crop begins to reach market from November.
The export ban was likely to stay in effect keeping the national shortage of the crop.
