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Nearly 400 cold storages in West Bengal have withdrawn their closure notice and will remain operational for the 2011 season, much to the relief of potato farmers in the State.
“We have decided to stay operational for the 2011 season, which begins in March. Earlier, we had decided to close the operation and shut our cold storages to press our demand for higher rent,” the West Bengal Cold Storages Association Vice-President, Mr Ramapada Paul, told PTI.
Minister's assurance
“In the last meeting, the Minister of Agriculture Marketing, Mr Mortaza Hossain, had assured us to look into our demands next year if the present government returns to power. Moreover, they (government) had said there would be limitations if there is law and order problem from the farmers if the cold storages stay closed,” he added.
In view of the present conditions, the association had decided to lift the closure notice, Mr Paul said.
The cold storages have the capacity to store 56-57 lakh tonnes of potatoes, as against this year's production target of 85-90 lakh tonnes.
The association had demanded an increase of Rs 25-126 a tonne as rent.
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