Slide in potato prices in West Bengal have been temporarily stemmed on the back of the State Government’s decision to provide buying support. Procurement is yet to start at the district-level.

According to trade sources, the prices of tuber stood between Rs 150 and Rs 210 per 50 kg packet (or between Rs 3.00 and Rs 4.20 a kg) at the farm end, same as last week.

"Currently there has been a temporary stabilisation in potato prices. This has mostly been caused because of the State Government’s assurance to provide buying support to the farmers," a trade source told BusinessLine .

It was on March 12 that the Bengal Government had announced its decision to purchase potatoes at Rs 5 a kilo directly from the farmers. Purchases would be made through various State-owned agri marketing department shops (called Sufal Bangla).

The procured tuber would then be sold in retail markets through various fair-price shops.

So far, four potato farmers have committed suicide in the State for failure to get the right price for their produce, sources said. The State Government, however, is yet to confirm the reasons for these deaths.

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