Potato Price In Bihar: Digging of potato, one of the main crops of rabi season, has started in most parts of the country. Farmers are going round the market to sell the crop to take advantage of the produce. In many states, farmers are also selling the potato crop at a good price. But farmers in Bihar are facing losses in selling potatoes. Here the farmers come to the market to sell potatoes, but the businessmen are buying potatoes at a much lower price than the rates fixed by the farmers. Due to this farmers are losing lakhs of rupees.
Loss caused by potato in UP, West Bengal
The yield of potato in Bihar has been good. But the problem with the local farmers is that their potatoes are not being consumed in the market. The reason behind this has come to light that due to the potatoes of Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, local potatoes are not being sold. Bihar’s potatoes are not even getting buyers, due to which farmers are upset and are forced to sell potatoes at throwaway prices. Due to this they are losing lakhs of rupees.
Why did the crisis arise?
In fact, at this time, consignments of potatoes from other states including West Bengal are reaching the mandis of Bihar. But in all these, potatoes from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh are available at a very cheap price. Potatoes of Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal are priced at Rs 560 to 570 per quintal in Bihar mandis, while the prices of Bihar potatoes remain at Rs 600 to 700 per quintal. There is a difference of up to Rs 200 per quintal in the prices of these states. This is the reason why people are not showing interest in buying potatoes of Bihar.
not meeting the cost
Farmers say that it has taken up to Rs 2600 to produce one sack, while the cost is being recovered only up to Rs 2400. There is a loss of Rs 200 on every sack. Due to such a difference between the cost and the sale, the farmers are not even able to meet the expenses. Farmers say that if the price of local potatoes does not increase, there will be huge loss per quintal.
The cost of cold storage is also not coming out
Experts say that the price of potatoes in Bihar is such that farmers cannot even bear the cost of keeping potatoes in cold storage. The rent for cold storage for keeping one quintal of potatoes is Rs 280 per quintal. The number of cold storages in Bihar Sharif is 13. Their capacity to store potatoes is 15 lakh quintals. But due to farmers not being able to keep potatoes in cold storage, these cold storages are lying empty. Cold storage operators are also facing huge losses.
Disclaimer: Some of the information given in the news is based on media reports. Farmer brothers, before implementing any suggestion, do consult the concerned expert.
