With the lower acreage of potato cultivation by about five per cent in West Bengal, potato production in the current season is expected to be close to 100 lakh tonnes, down by 10 lakh tonnes from previous year, an official said on Tuesday.
"Potato production in the 2018 season is expected to be 100 lakh tonne against about 110 lakh tonne produced in 2017," West Bengal Cold Storage Association President Patit Paban De said here on the sidelines of its 53rd Annual General Meeting.
State Agricultural Marketing Minister Tapan Dasgupta said a meeting on February 19 has been convened with all the stakeholders to discuss about potato production, marketing and pricing of it as a part of the state government's plan of action.
He said that the expected shortfall in production would not have any adverse impact on prices as the state has a carryover stock of close to 9 lakh tonne, as of January 1, 2018.
Agriculture adviser to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Pradip K. Mazumdar, also expected that there would be no major impact on production of potato despite delayed sowing due to disruptions caused by adverse weather conditions.
"With the state's annual consumption of 65 lakh tonnes, state will have a surplus of about 35 lakh tonnes to supply to other states," De added.
--IANS
bdc/vd
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
