Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Thursday decided to procure potato through NAFED as part of efforts to tide over the crisis faced by the state amid steep rise in the price of the tuber.
Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra said that the state government has initiated steps to make available potato to the consumers at Rs 30 per kg by getting the tuner through NAFED.
The move aims at providing potato to the consumers in the state at a reasonable price with the help of NAFED.
In the first phase, an order has been placed with NAFED for the procurement of 300 metric tonnes of potato and the consignment is likely to arrive in the state within a week.
As soon as the potato consignment arrives in the state, it will be made available at retail shops in places like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Sambalpur and Berhampur to begin with.
The officials concerned have been directed to take appropriate steps to ensure sale of potato as per the proposed arrangements, the Minister added.