With potato prices crashing on account of a bumper production, the West Bengal government’s move to fix a minimum support price (MSP) for the crop is unlikely to bring much cheer to farmers in the state.
At a recent farmers’ meet, chief minister Mamata Banerjee blamed demonetisation, along with the bumper potato production, for the price crash.
On Tuesday, the state government announced the MSP of Rs 460 a quintal, or Rs 4.60 a kg, for procurement of potato to salvage farmers reeling from the price crash.
The government will procure about 28,000 tonnes of potato over the next few months for mid-day