Potato price Rs 32 per kilo in godown, Rs 60 in retail market in Cuttack; consumers suspect black marketing

Are the hoarders and blackmarketers controlling the prices of potatoes in Odisha? Such questions are now being asked by the consumers who are now fed up with the daily price fluctuation of the essential commodity.

In Cuttack’s Chhatrabazar, potato is being sold at Rs 3200 per quintal. However, the retail price some 100 to 200 mts away from Chhatrabazar is Rs 60 per kilo. This has led to resentment among the consumers as they are forced to buy potatoes as per the price being charged by the traders.

As no potato-laden truck has come from Uttar Pradesh or West Bengal, it has led to the shortage of potatoes again in Odisha. It is said that the consumers are also reluctant to purchase the Uttar Pradesh potatoes. Hence, the traders are also not keen to import them from the new source destination after the non-cooperative stance of West Bengal.

The concerned Minister, on the other hand, said that efforts are on to ensure that how adequate potato stock is brought and consumers buy it at affordable rates. The potato crisis would be resolved at the earliest, the minister said.