Ranchi/Dhanbad: After the alleged ban on the supply of potatoes from West Bengal, the price of potatoes has increased by Rs 5 per kg in the retail market of Jharkhand in the last two days. An official gave this information on Saturday.
According to an association of potato traders in West Bengal, the West Bengal government has reportedly imposed restrictions on interstate supply of potatoes to maintain stock and control its prices.
In Jharkhand, 60 percent of the potato demand throughout the year is met by West Bengal while the remaining demand is met by Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and local production.
Abhishek Anand, secretary, Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC), Jamshedpur, told PTI, “Each truck carries 20-22 tonnes of potatoes and it comes to Jharkhand from West Bengal. We are told that trucks have been stopped at checkpoints in Bengal since Thursday, due to which potato prices have increased in the wholesale and retail markets in the state since Friday.
The price of Bengal potatoes in the retail market of Ranchi increased to Rs 35-40 per kg on Saturday, which was Rs 32-35 per kg on Friday. Bibhas Kumar Dey, former president and advisor of ‘West Bengal Progressive Potato Traders Association’ (WBPPTA) told PTI over phone, “West Bengal Police has increased vigilance in border areas to curb export of potatoes to other states. Has increased. Hundreds of trucks loaded with potatoes were sent back during police investigation since Wednesday evening. Traders are suffering huge losses due to this step.”