Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: In the wake of the failure of the government’s potato mission, as is evident from the rising price of potatoes in market, food supply minister Sanjay Das Burma has indicated he would review the situation.
“Since the increasing price of the tuber has been brought to his notice, the minister will review the situation Tuesday following which appropriate action will be taken,” food supplies and consumer welfare secretary Madhusudan Padhi told this newspaper.
Padhi, however, said the new harvest is being procured and the price will stabilise shortly. Potatoes which were being sold at `10 two days back in Bhubaneswar are being sold anywhere between `16 and 20. The prices may escalate further as the government has virtually no control over the vegetable markets. It is unlikely that the new harvest of potatoes can be procured on time by various agencies. The new potato has already sneaked its way into malls like Big Bazar and Reliance Fresh crop where it is sold around `20 per kilo.
Orissa Vyabasayi Mahasangh secretary Sudhakar Panda said Potato is being sold at `1,000-`1,050 per quintal in West Bengal and after being transported to Orissa, the cost goes up to 1,200.
The potato price rise has raised questions about the state government’s ‘potato mission’. The government had set a target of producing 4 lakh tonne potato this year, however, poor storage capacity has added to the plight of farmers and consumers.
Meanwhile, a few political outfits have urged state government to pay attention to curb prices of essential commodities.
“The prices of sugar, edible oil, dal, potato and tomato have sky-rocketed. The prices of rice and wheat suji are rising every day. The consumers are at the receiving end thanks to the failure of the PDS machinery.
After the general Budget, the service tax which stood at 14.5 per cent has gone up to 15 per cent and after the .5 farm cess the market prices of several commodities have increased. Hoarders and black marketers of essential commodities are having a field day,” said Samajwadi Party state president Rabi Behera while urging Das Burma to look into the issue.
