In late October, when price of the Jyoti variety of potato soared to Rs 18 a kg in Kolkata retail market, the West Bengal Government came up with a number of restrictions to cap prices at Rs 13 a kg.

As a result, potatoes nearly vanished from retail markets as traders complained that they were incurring loss.

To add to the trouble, supply crunch has pushed the price of the premium Chandramukhi variety to Rs 24 a kg in Kolkata.

A month later, as the Mamata Banerjee Government began withdrawing restrictions, the price of Jyoti variety potato came down to Rs 16 a kg in Kolkata markets.

Expectation of prices easing further in the next couple of weeks has soared.

According to Patit Paban De, a member of the West Bengal Cold Storage Association, potato prices at the farm-end currently rule at Rs 700-800 a quintal, a tad lower than the price in the first half of November (Rs 750-850).

Potato price, according to him, is “likely to ease further” given the excess stocks piled at the 425-odd cold storages in the State.

As of now, cold storages have more than six lakh tonnes, as against the State’s monthly (December) consumption of four lakh tonnes. New varieties of tuber from Punjab have also started coming.

“We don’t see it as quite an alarm. While assorted potatoes are sold between Rs 15 and 17, the price of mixed (average quality) potato is ruling at Rs 13,” Subrata Biswas, Principal Secretary, State Agricultural Marketing Department, told Business Line . According to him, though the adequate stock in the cold storages rule out further hike in potato price, his department would keep a watch on the trend. ayan.pramanik@thehindu.co.in

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