Bengali government data projected this year's potato crop would be at the same level as last year; however, wholesale potato prices in West Bengal have risen by 15-40 percent this month and the national average for the month shows an 18 percent jump, suggesting lower output.
In 2015-16, total production in the country, according to the first government estimates, was 48.1 million tonnes, spread over 2.08 million hectares, against 48 million tonnes from 2.07 million ha in 2014-15, said R P Gupta, director, National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation (NHRDF).
A second government estimate is expected within a month and traders contend production is quite a bit lower than last year, with estimates of around 15%.
The national average price has increased from Rs 635 a quintal to Rs 754 a qtl in a month, up 19 percent, according to data from NHRDF. In the same period, at the Kolkata market, the rise has been nearly 40 per cent, to Rs 980 a qtl.
Total potato production in Bengal is expected to be close to 10 mt this year. The retail price in the city is around Rs 15 a kg. “If the trend continues, retail prices are expected to touch close to Rs 20 a kg,” said De. ''In the export market, our higher prices are making the Indian variety undesirable. The average export price of our variety is $250-325 a tonne. That from Pakistan and Bangladesh is $170-200 a tonne.''
