In a distressing turn of events, potatoes worth Rs. 27 crores are perilously close to rotting due to an ongoing inter-state transportation issue instigated by the Bengal government. The plight of traders and farmers has been exacerbated by the government’s stringent measures to restrict the movement of potatoes to other states, causing a ripple effect across the agricultural landscape.
This time the prices of potatoes have increased significantly. At present it is up to three thousand rupees per quintal
According to reports from local news sources, the impasse has left around 300 trucks loaded with approximately nine thousand tons of potatoes stranded for the past five days at the Bengal border. This unforeseen blockade has not only disrupted the flow of essential produce but has also placed a significant financial burden on traders and farmers involved in the potato trade.
The situation has particularly impacted the supply chain from Uttar Pradesh to North-Eastern states like Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, and Tripura. The ban on potato transportation, which came into effect on August 6, has led to mounting concerns about the potential wastage of the valuable crop and the economic repercussions faced by those in the industry.
As Bengal ranks second in the country for potato production after Uttar Pradesh, the restrictions have had a cascading effect on the potato market, causing prices to surge to unprecedented levels. With prices currently hovering around three thousand rupees per quintal, the urgency to find a resolution to this transportation deadlock is palpable among stakeholders seeking to mitigate financial losses and prevent food wastage.
