Potato growers threaten to dump produce on roads

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 31

Gurmeet Singh, a farmer from Nanianwala village near Goniana Mandi has been waiting for his turn to store potatoes at a local cold store for the past four days.

Gurmeet Singh said: “I will scatter all my produce on the roads but won’t allow it to rot in the fields.”

Sources said cold store owners were reluctant to store potatoes since they apprehend that the farmers might not return to claim their stock in view of poor prices.

There are hundreds of farmers who might have to destroy their crop in case they fail to store their produce. More than 36 cold stores in the district are nearing their full capacity.

Agriculture Minister Tota Singh said: “Buyers from Uttar Pradesh and Bengal have backed off because they are self-sufficient this year. The produce, if sent to South India, will rot by the time it reaches there. We are looking for all options, including seeking Centre’s help.”

Guruditta, a farmer of Daansinghwala village, said the potato prices had touched as low as Rs 150 per quintal. Keeping in mind the input and other costs, the farmers were facing a big loss.”

Dr Rajinder Singh, Director, Horticulture, said: “The state is considering setting up a market intelligence department to educate farmers to avoid such situations. Last year, the prices of potato were high owing to low yield in Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. The prices went up from Rs 500 per quintal to Rs 1,000 per quintal. This lured a large number of farmers to grow potatoes, but the situation is entirely different this time.”