Bengal’s potato output seen up by 16% on higher area, favourable weather

Potato output in West Bengal is approximated to be bigger by virtually 16 for each cent at 110 lakh tonnes (lt) this year, in contrast to 95 lt in 2020. The bigger output of the tuber in Bengal and other critical developing States including Uttar Pradesh and Punjab is most likely to exert stress on price ranges.

Wholesale value of the tuber (the prevalent Jyoti assortment) has previously halved to ₹800 a quintal throughout numerous marketplaces in the Point out in contrast to ₹1,500-1,600 in the exact interval past year.

Potato cold storages may perhaps run out of room soon

According to Patit Paban De, former president of West Bengal Cold Storage Affiliation, the rise in output is primarily for the reason that of bigger region and the favourable climatic situations through sowing and harvesting interval.

“Last year, farmers received really fantastic value for their crop owing to the decreased output and the continuous desire almost in the course of the year. This has inspired them to go for bigger cultivation of the crop this year. Additionally, the favourable climatic affliction in the sort of a extended wintertime has aided maximize the productivity and generate,” De explained to BusinessLine.

Potato output in the Point out was impacted in 2020 owing to delayed sowing and unfavourable weather situations through harvesting. The continuous desire for the tuber from inside the Point out as very well as the neighbouring marketplaces saved price ranges organization.

The wholesale value of the tuber had greater to virtually ₹3,four hundred-3,500 a quintal in mid-November past year. However, price ranges started inching down and ended up witnessed ruling at about ₹1,four hundred-2,000 in early January.

Potato, onion output approximated at record

Bumper Loading

Cultivation of the spud in Bengal is unfold in excess of close to 4.6 lakh hectares. Hooghly, Burdwan, Bankura, East Midnapore and West Midnapore are critical developing districts. There has been about five-7 for each cent maximize in acreage this year, resources stated.

According to De, loading in cold storages is almost entire and most retail store properties have been saved to upto 97 for each cent potential. The loading in cold storages was decreased in 2020 at only 55 lakh tonnes (about seventy nine for each cent of the whole potential).

There are about four hundred cold storages in Bengal and the whole storage potential is approximated to be close to 70 lt.

“While the price ranges are ruling continuous at existing but we truly feel when the unloading commences then price ranges will get started inching down,” stated Mintu Ghosh, a potato trader, in the Bankura district of West Bengal.