Alipurduar district in West Bengal has harvested a large potato crop this year, but prices have hit rock bottom. According to Ei Samay, potatoes taken out of cold storage are selling for just Rs 6 a kilogram in the wholesale market, and many farmers, fearing further losses, are not taking their stock out of the cold stores.

Against this background, a petrol pump beside the Dhupguri–Falakata state highway at Joychandpur in Falakata has announced, ahead of the Puja festival, that customers who buy at least Rs 2,000 worth of petrol or diesel will get 2 kg of potatoes free. The pump says the offer is meant to stand by potato growers.

Its owner, Dolly Dey, said the pump had decided to support potato farmers this time and would keep the offer running as long as it could, adding that customers would be pleased to receive potatoes with their fuel.

Shiben Barman, a potato farmer in Falakata, said selling prices have fallen so far below the cost of production that farmers dare not take their potatoes out of cold storage. "Let them rot if they must," he said.

Pradip Ghosh, secretary of the North Bengal region of the West Bengal Cold Storage Association, called the situation "very worrying", saying the association was looking to the state government and hoped it would take positive steps.

The report is by Debarghya Bhattacharya of Ei Samay in Alipurduar.

Source: Ei Samay