Bhubaneswar: Potatoes for Odisha markets might be brought from Punjab if required said the Minister on Monday. While speaking to the media persons the State Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra said that if required the State government is ready to get potatoes from Punjab to the state.
The Minister further refuted the rumors of the potatoes from Uttar Pradesh being rotten and of inferior quality. The decision to stop importing potato from West Bengal was taken as the scarcity of potato has been continuing in Odisha for a long period of time as the neighbouring state has stopped sending potato, the Minister.
Potato price in Odisha seems to be stuck at Rs. 45 to Rs. 50 per kg after a decline to about Rs. 35 per kg for few days. This is burning a hole in the pocket of consumers, as this vegetable occupies a pivotal place in most kitchens. It is worth mentioning that, the negotiations seem to have had no impact on the prices.
In Chattrabazaar the main vegetable market and godown of Cuttack, the price of three kgs of potato has reached to Rs. 150 which is very high. In the retail market, potato is being sold at Rs 45 to 50 per kg. If this situation continues, then the crisis and the price will increase further.
All the states generally depend on West Bengal for potato. However, due to the strike of cold storage owners in West Bengal, there is now a potato crisis in Odisha. Due to this all of a sudden, the price of a sack of this quintessential vegetable has risen to Rs. 500 as compared the earlier price of Rs. 300 per sack.
It is to be noted here that the State has been facing shortage of potato as the neighbouring state has reportedly stopped transporting it due to which the price has skyrocketed. Currently, 1 kg of potato is being sold for Rs 45 to Rs. 50 per kg or more in the Odisha market.