Potato prices in West Bengal have inched up by about Rs 150 per quintal over the last one month as farmers are holding on to their stock in anticipation of bulk demand from overseas markets.

The wholesale price of the Jyoti variety of the tuber has been ruling at about Rs 580-620 per quintal, according to Mr Patit Paban De, Member, West Bengal Cold Storage Association.

“Potato production in countries such as Russia and China has been lower so far during this year on account of a heavy snowfall. So there is anticipation in the market that there could be a good demand for Bengal potatoes in these countries,” Mr De told Business Line . The farmers in the State are therefore hopeful of getting a good price for their produce from these markets. They have therefore held back their stock in anticipation of this demand and a corresponding rise in prices.

West Bengal produced about 95 lakh tonne of potatoes during the current year and close to 56 lakh tonne of potatoes have been stored in cold storages across the state. Farmers have been holding on to about 60 per cent of the total stock kept in cold storage in anticipation of further increase in prices.

“Though farmers have held back their stock, it is little unlikely that Bengal potatoes would find too much favour as the quality of the produce is not up to the mark. Moreover, the demand is already being met by other countries,” Mr De said. The State might be able to export only about two lakh tonne of good quality potatoes to these countries, he added.

Potato prices would continue to rule firm at current levels for the next one-to-two months, he said.

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