News on The Potato Supply Chain from West Bengal

April 25, 2024

Memorandum of Understanding Exchanged Between Koelnmesse India and Indian Chamber of Commerce for Anuga Select India 2024

Koelnmesse India, a wholly owned subsidiary of Koelnmesse GmbH, and the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) have joined hands in a landmark collaboration for the upcoming Anuga Select India 2024.

State Agri dept begins potato cultivation at North Bengal Univ

January 08, 2024

West Bengal has started potato multiplication using Apical Rooted Cutting at University of North Bengal

The Agriculture department of Government of West Bengal has started potato cultivation with Apical Rooted Cutting (ARC) process at the Centre of Floriculture and Agri-Business Management (COFAM) department of the University of North Bengal in Siliguri.

Agri dept of West Bengal (India) sets 2030 target to become self-reliant in seed potato production

October 02, 2023

International Potato Center (CIP) supports West Bengal in becoming self-reliant in seed potato production by 2030

The state Agriculture department of West Bengal (India) recently set a target of attaining self-sufficiency in the production of seed potato by 2030. CIP is supporting the effort with their technology

May 16, 2022

PepsiCo & USAID award women farmers from West Bengal for breaking stereotypes and inspiring communities

PepsiCo and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) acknowledged and awarded six women farmers as part of its ‘Women’s Land Rights and Economic Empowerment’ activity in West Bengal.

May 12, 2022

Potato Production in key production areas of India affected by Unseasonal Rains and Heat Wave

Potato production in the current crop year is estimated to be 53.60 mt, down from 56.17 mt last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture's first estimate of horticulture production.

April 02, 2021

Bengal’s potato output seen up by 16% on higher area, favourable weather

Cold storages full at 97% capacity; bumper crop drags prices of the spud down.

March 18, 2021

Costly seed potatoes and a low guaranteed selling price (MSP) could spell disaster for West Bengal farmers

Potato cultivators in West Bengal were afraid they will face severe losses as the price of good quality seeds have skyrocketed even as the minimum support price (MSP) fixed has remained relatively low.

March 12, 2021

Bumper potato yield gives price stability hope in West Bengal

Retail prices of potatoes have risen marginally, given that farmers have been scrambling to stock up on the harvest, which has had a bumper production this year. This very bounty and the stockpiling is expected to keep potato prices stable over the next season.

Bengal Cabinet allows cold storages to buy 10 lakh MT of potato

February 23, 2021

West Bengal allows cold storages to buy 1 Million tons of potato

Predicting a bumper harvest of potato this season, the West Bengal Cabinet on Monday decided to allow cold storage owners to purchase at least 10 lakh (1 Million) metric tons of tuber from farmers at a fixed price, so that they do not have to suffer losses, a senior official said.

Mamata Banerjee to seek Modi's intervention over soaring onion, potato prices in India

November 10, 2020

Soaring onion, potato prices in India become a political hot potato

Blaming the federal government for the steep hike in prices of essential commodities, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of West Bengal alleged that the prices were rising as the Centre has snatched away the state's power.

The West Bengal state government (India) has a plan in place to curb spike in prices of potatoes

September 04, 2020

West Bengal state government (India) to curb spike in prices of potatoes

The Kolkata state government (India) had given seven days time to potato traders to lower its wholesale price to Rs 22 per kg so that it can be sold at Rs 25 per kg.

March 25, 2015

West Bengal’s potato farmers in trouble - reportedly resulting in multiple suicides

Even though the ban by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on sale of potatoes to other states over the past three years has been lifted, cases of farmer suicides, which some say may have been driven by the fear of heavy losses, are still being reported.

A worker is seen transporting potatoes to a local market after a spell of rain in Kolkata on Wednesday (Courtesy: Ashoke Chakrabarty)

March 05, 2015

Potato prices West Bengal crash on bumper crop

A bumper crop, coupled with weak demand from other States, has led to a free-fall in potatoes prices in West Bengal.

December 23, 2014

Rabi Potato Production India might be up 25-30% over last year

Domestic potato production in India in the present Rabi season is likely to be 25-30 per cent higher over last year on account of good weather conditions.

August 27, 2014

West Bengal halts potato export again; Odisha says enough stock

Potato supply from West Bengal was disrupted again with the authorities of the neighbouring state re-imposing transport restrictions from today (August 24, 2014), a week after Trinamool Congress (TMC) government there relaxed movement of this vegetable variety to Odisha.

July 31, 2014

Ban on transportation of potato outside Bengal stays in place

To prevent rising prices of potato in the state, the West Bengal government has decided to continue a ban on its transportation to other states and abroad until normal situation was restored.