Bhubaneswar, Nov 29: Potato prices in Odisha have risen slightly over the past two days due to supply disruptions from West Bengal, where restrictions on the movement of essential goods have been enforced, traders reported.
As a result, hundreds of trucks carrying potatoes have been stranded at the Odisha-Bengal border since Wednesday night, with vehicles not allowed to cross the inter-state boundary. Many of the trucks have had to return to their point of origin to prevent the potatoes from spoiling.
Previously, potatoes were being sold in Odisha markets at prices between Rs 30 and Rs 33 per kilogram. However, the price has now increased to around Rs 40 per kg in retail markets. Traders warned that if the supply situation is not resolved soon, prices could rise even further.
Sudhakar Panda, Secretary of the All Odisha Traders Association, has appealed to the state government to step in and engage with West Bengal authorities to allow the passage of potato-laden trucks into Odisha.
Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra acknowledged the disruption in the supply of potatoes from West Bengal.
"We will source potatoes from other states like Punjab and Uttar Pradesh to ensure that consumers do not face shortages," he assured.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister KV Singh Deo held a review meeting to assess the supply of potato seeds to farmers.
In a bid to make Odisha more self-sufficient in potato production, the government has already distributed seeds for the Rabi crop season in October and November. This year, potato cultivation is being carried out on 15,023 hectares of land, with 3058 clusters dedicated to potato farming. A total of 95,841 beneficiaries have been identified to participate in the initiative.
