Govt to ensure potato retail price for consumers

The West Bengal government on Friday said it has directed potato traders to ensure that the retail price of the tuber is brought down to Rs 25 a kg from Rs 32-34 a kg prevailing now.

The state government in a meeting of the potato trade bodies and cold storages had decided that a maximum of seven days will be allowed to ensure that the price of potato becomes Rs 25 a kg in the retail level.

The stakeholders have agreed that farmers will get bumper price if potato is Rs 22 per kg from the cold storage gates. Potato should be at Rs 25 for the consumers taking into account transport, wholesale and retail margin, Pradip Kumar Mazumdar, the chief agri advisor to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said.

Traders, however, pointed out that Rs 3 per kg spread is not enough between cold storage gates to the platter considering the high wastage in the monsoon season.

Mazumdar said the government will take all measures to ensure that the price is adhered to.

It may also ban export if the situation demands, he added. PTI