West Bengal Strikers End, Odisha Potato Supply Set to Stabilize | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: With potato traders in West Bengal calling off their strike on Tuesday, Odisha markets are hoping supply will soon resume from the neighbouring state, normalising price.
“Since the West Bengal govt has assured traders that they can supply potatoes to other states, we are hopeful that the situation will improve here. Once the stranded trucks from WB arrive in the Odisha market, the price of potatoes will stabilise and may drop to earlier rates,” said Sudhakar Panda, secretary of Odisha Byabasayee Sangha.
In the middle of the potato crisis, officers of the food supply and consumer welfare department continued with raids at potato wholesale markets and godowns in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack to check hoarding and overpricing.
“We decided to talk to the traders and try and understand where the actual problem lies. A few trucks from Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have reached and are enough to manage the demand for now,” said Sanjib Kumar Sahu, chief supply officer.
Potato continued to sell at Rs 40-50/kg after West Bengal on Nov 27 re-imposed curbs on selling potatoes to neighbouring states in an attempt to control prices in the local markets.
Following the decision of the West Bengal govt, police have intensified surveillance at inter-state borders to prevent the transportation of potatoes out of the neighbouring state. This has led to several trucks being stranded at border crossings, while a few are trying to reach Odisha markets by taking longer routes, leading to an increase in wholesale prices.
At the wholesale market, one quintal of potatoes was selling for Rs 3,300 on Tuesday, which was Rs 1,170 last week, market insiders said. “Customers have reduced consumption due to the high price of potatoes. Due to high wholesale price and a drop in profit as well as shortage of potatoes in godowns, we are also bringing in fewer potatoes,” said Surya Narayan Pradhan, a vendor.
“Since the West Bengal govt has assured traders that they can supply potatoes to other states, we are hopeful that the situation will improve here. Once the stranded trucks from WB arrive in the Odisha market, the price of potatoes will stabilise and may drop to earlier rates,” said Sudhakar Panda, secretary of Odisha Byabasayee Sangha.
In the middle of the potato crisis, officers of the food supply and consumer welfare department continued with raids at potato wholesale markets and godowns in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack to check hoarding and overpricing.
“We decided to talk to the traders and try and understand where the actual problem lies. A few trucks from Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have reached and are enough to manage the demand for now,” said Sanjib Kumar Sahu, chief supply officer.
Potato continued to sell at Rs 40-50/kg after West Bengal on Nov 27 re-imposed curbs on selling potatoes to neighbouring states in an attempt to control prices in the local markets.
Following the decision of the West Bengal govt, police have intensified surveillance at inter-state borders to prevent the transportation of potatoes out of the neighbouring state. This has led to several trucks being stranded at border crossings, while a few are trying to reach Odisha markets by taking longer routes, leading to an increase in wholesale prices.
At the wholesale market, one quintal of potatoes was selling for Rs 3,300 on Tuesday, which was Rs 1,170 last week, market insiders said. “Customers have reduced consumption due to the high price of potatoes. Due to high wholesale price and a drop in profit as well as shortage of potatoes in godowns, we are also bringing in fewer potatoes,” said Surya Narayan Pradhan, a vendor.
