Potato output in W Bengal may fall 20%

West Bengal's potato production in 2007 (January-December) is likely to be lower by 20 per cent from the estimate of 9 million tonne because of unseasonal rains and foggy weather ahead of the harvest, a senior government official said on Wednesday.

"However, total output in the state will be more or less the same as last year," said D Konar, director of agriculture, West Bengal. Buoyed by last year's high prices, the area under potato cultivation in the state has increased to 420,000 hectare compared with 310,000 hectare, he said.

Based on the increased acreage, the state had estimated this year's output at 9 million tonne, against the actual output of 7.48 million tonne last year.

Unseasonal rains last month have caused damage to the crop, but the state's overall potato production is not seen substantially down because of higher acreage. The state government has decided to offer crop insurance to farmers who have suffered losses.

Potato is cultivated across 10 districts of West Bengal including Midnapore, North and South Dinajpur, North and South 24 Parganas, and Jalpaiguri.

According to Konar, foggy weather, unseasonal rains and vast difference between day and night temperatures have hit the potato crop adversely.

"Also, as land holdings are very small with maximum crop intensity, the impact of weather was felt severely," he said.

Some farmers may have suffered loss of potato crop to the extent of 30-40 per cent, he said. Spot and futures prices of potato have been rising since the last one month on reports of crop damage.