With potato growers getting only Rs 1.5-2 per kg for their produce, Punjab government today announced a slew of relief measures for farmers such as freight subsidy on exports and reduction in market and rural development fees.
The state government also directed state co-operative to procure potatoes from markets and supply in other parts of the country. It decided to enhance usage of the key vegetables in mid-day meal scheme.
Potato growers in Punjab are facing "massive" losses due to plummeting prices. They are fetching only Rs 1.5-2 per kg against Rs 10-12 per kg in corresponding period of last year.
These decisions were taken by the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during a review meeting to assess the situation regarding production and marketing of potatoes in the state.
Badal noted that farmers are not getting a fair price for their crop in the market on account of bumper potato crop in the country.
Punjab produced about 22.60 lakh tonnes of potatoes during the current season.
As part of relief measures for potato growers, Badal directed state-cooperative Markfed and Punjab Mandi Board to assist farmers in marketing their crop.
He asked the Markfed to procure potatoes from the market for supplying to the other parts of the country.
It was decided to give freight subsidy of Rs 200/quintal through Markfed for export of potatoes to other countries and Rs 50 per quintal for marketing the crop in other states.
The Chief Minister decided to slash the market fee and rural development fee from 2 per cent to 0.25 per cent to facilitate buyers. This benefit will be given till April 30.
Similarly, commission at the rate of one percent would be charged by the commission agents on the transactions of potato crop during this period, he said.
Badal directed the officers to enhance the use of potatoes in the cooked meals supplied under various programmes.
As per this decision, the use of potatoes in the mid-day-meal scheme, wherein 16 lakh school students were supplied cooked food, would be encouraged.
