"Potato politics" has erupted in Odisha due to a supply shortage of potatoes from West Bengal.
On Friday, the Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wrote to the West Bengal CM, Mamata Banerjee, asking her to streamline the supply.
Arpit Pattnaik
Neighbouring West Bengal's embargo on potato supply to other states has caused a shortage of the staple in Odisha. This has sparked a competition between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the chief Opposition Biji Janata Dal to address the issue.
On Friday, Leader of Opposition and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik wrote to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee asking her to streamline supply. "Due to rains, there has been a shortage of potatoes in the Odisha market, leading to an artificial price hike and adding to the sufferings of the common people," said Patnaik in his letter.
West Bengal is among the largest producers of potatoes in the country, accounting for 23.51 percent of the country's total share in 2021-22, second only to Uttar Pradesh (29.65 percent). Odisha largely depends on West Bengal for its potato supply, as it produces less than a third of its required 13 lakh metric tons (MT) of potatoes annually.
https://x.com/MohanMOdisha/status/1817154970526925121
The potato traders in Bengal have called an indefinite strike over alleged harassment by the state police and the local administration while supplying potatoes to other states. This has led to a shortage of potatoes in Odisha and caused prices in the state to soar.
In an effort to bring down prices, the West Bengal government has restricted its potato supply to other states since July 23.
Meanwhile, the short supply has caused potato prices to rise in Odisha. Although the state government has ordered potato prices to be capped at Rs 32/kg, they are currently selling for Rs 50-55/kg in retail.
Odisha's Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra said that officials of both the governments are in touch to streamline supply. He stated, "West Bengal officials have informed us that normal supply of potatoes was disrupted due to a strike by traders from July 21-24. It will take one or two days to restore normal potato supply."
If the supply isn't streamlined soon, the state government will turn to Uttar Pradesh to meet its demand. The Odisha government had previously launched the potato mission in April 2015 to increase the state's potato cultivation, but it failed to achieve desired results due to inadequate storage facilities. Although potato farming is undertaken in Koraput and Kandhamal regions of the state, the farmers are frequently forced to resort to distress sales.
