Potato tension: Odisha to procure stock from Punjab if needed, says Minister

Even though Odisha has turned to Uttar Pradesh to tide over the potato crisis following the deadlock situation with neighbouring West Bengal, the price fluctuation still remains a major concern for consumers in the state.

When asked the reason behind the prices of potatoes not reducing, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Monday said that efforts are on to regulate the prices. However, the only permanent solution is that we have to start our own production. CM has announced 58 cold storages in all sub-divisions and farmers will be encouraged to take up potato cultivation, he said.

“Currently, the price rise of potatoes is a national phenomenon. Everybody usually gets potatoes at cheap rates during the production season,” said Patra.

While refuting reports that the potato stocks from Uttar Pradesh are getting damaged early, the Minister stated that the quality of potatoes which are being imported from Uttar Pradesh are far better than those procured from West Bengal. As traders are used to procure potatoes from West Bengal, such statements are coming now.

"We decided to bring potatoes from Uttar Pradesh as Odisha did not want to fall victim to the blackmailing by West Bengal and as a matter of self-respect,” the minister asserted.