Is Odisha staring at another potato supply shortage?

Odisha may be staring at another Potato supply shortage as traders in West Bengal are all set to launch a protest against the Mamata Banerjee government starting tomorrow.

According to sources, the traders will protest against the Mamata Banerjee government's directive restricting the supply of potatoes to other states including Odisha.

The traders also threatened to stop the supply of potatoes from cold storage units if the West Bengal CM did not allow them to export tuber to other states.

With the situation worsening further in the neighbouring state, another potato crisis cannot be ruled out in Odisha. 

“Odisha needs 4500 to 5000 tonnes of potatoes per day. The stock available with us can cater to the state's demand for the next two to three days,” said Sudhakar Panda, general secretary of the Odisha traders association.

Commenting on the possible potato crisis in the State, Panda said, “I don’t see such a situation again. Both Odisha and West Bengal have their mutual interests to not allow such a situation. While Odisha wants to procure the tuber, the traders want to sell the kitchen essential.”

“Though Odisha has options to procure potatoes from Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, West Bengal has the only option to sell the potatoes to us. We are procuring 10 to 20 per cent of the daily potato requirements from UP. The impasse needs the central government’s intervention,” Panda added.