Wholesalers refuse to supply potato to market

SNS, Siliguri, 21 August 2014: Though the Uttarbanga Aalu Babosayee Samiti (UABS) called off their ‘cease work,’ wholesale traders refused to accept a proposal put forth by the government to supply potatoes to the retail market at Rs 14 per kg.

The refusal followed North Bengal Development minister Gautam Deb’s request to the traders in a meeting at Uttarkanya here today. Mr Deb convened the meeting with administrative officials, agriculture marketing officials, potato traders, cold storage owners and other officials concerned of four districts to take stock of the situation and check the retail prices of potatoes.

However, even after a marathon meeting, minister Deb failed to appease the traders, who stuck to their guns and demanded that the government must first lift restrictions on export of potatoes to other states, particularly Assam.

Many potato traders and farmers refused to accept Mr Deb’s proposals and expressed unhappiness over the state government’s decision to impose the export restrictions.

Traders argued that there will be sufficient stock of potatoes for consumption of the local people in the region even after exporting then.

They said both the farmers and traders will suffer huge losses if the state does not allow them to export them to Assam.

Officials sources said that the present stock of potatoes in north Bengal is 2.75 lakh metric tonnes in 47 cold storages, and the rate of consumption is 22,500 MT per month.

“We have lifted our cease work against the state’s decision to stop the exports. Tomorrow, we will hold a meeting to decide on our next course of action,” UABS secretary Kartik Das said.

“We are sorry to say that if the state government does not change its policy, the economy of north Bengal, which depends on potato cultivation and export to other states, will be severely hit. Both the farmers and traders will suffer huge losses. Farmers will not be able to start cultivation of potatoes,” Mr Das said.

“We requested the government to lift the ban, and as Mr Deb expressed his inability to accept our demand, we refused to accept his proposal to supply 5,000 MT of potato for the retail market,” he added.

Talking to reporters, Mr Deb later said: “Potato traders lifted their ‘cease work’ agitation upon my request, but they did not agree to sell potatoes in the retail market at Rs 14 per kg.”

“It was not possible for me to accept their demand in the absence of the chief minister, and without consultations with her. I asked them to supply potatoes for the local market so that people can buy it at Rs 14 per kg until I discuss the matter with the chief minister,” Mr Deb said.

According to him, he will got to Kolkata on 25 August and attend a cabinet meeting on the 26th and a meeting with agriculture minister Arup Roy on the 27th on the issue.

“Another review meeting with agriculture marketing officials will be held at Uttarkanya on 29 August,” he said.

Retail traders were, meanwhile, selling potatoes (Jyoti variety) from Burdwan at Rs 25 per kg today.

Wholesalers in Siliguri supplied potatoes at Rs 2,100 per quintal today.

Mr Deb claimed that the potato rate was Rs 22 per kg in the retail market.