Potato Price Shoots Up In Odisha, Minister Promises Action Against Hoarders

Bhubaneswar: With the price of potato skyrocketing in the last three days in Odisha much to the resentment of consumers, the Odisha government has decided to take action against the hoarders.

Sources said the price of the potato has gone up by Rs 5 more per kg. While the wholesale traders are selling 3 kg of potato at Rs 50 at Chhatra Bazaar in Cuttack as against Rs 30-Rs 35, the retail traders are selling the item at Rs 55-Rs 60.

The consumers have blamed the state government for the sudden spurt in the price of potato.

Asked how the state government is going to tide over the present crisis, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare minister Surya Narayan Patro said stern action would be taken against the hoarders as they are not releasing potatoes to the market resulting in the sudden rise in its price.

Stating that the more cold storages are being constructed in the state to stock potatoes, the minister said the requirement in Odisha is nearly seven times more than its production. As production in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal has failed, the price has gone up in Odisha owing to fluctuation in the existing demand and supply.

“Moreover, the whole sellers of Odisha, who have procured potato from the neighbouring states, are not releasing it the market expecting that the acute shortage would earn them a decent profit,” he pointed out.

He said a meeting would be convened soon to discuss measures to bring down the price of the potato.