News on Potato Trade from India

Higher potato prices are reported in various states of India (Punjab, West-Bengal), offering relief (Punjab) or even a windfall (West-Bengal) for farmers.

Four months after farmers dumped potatoes on road in Mohali and other parts of the Indian state Punjab, seeking remunerative price for their potato crop, state government has allowed the staple food’s export to Russia and the Middle East.

With their product rotting, potato growers in Indian East Punjab are suffering huge losses and Jalandhar Potato Growers Association (JPGA) has demanded urgent export of potatoes to Pakistan and availability of express rail rakes for transporting their produce to southern states.

Despite a fresh crop arriving at the wholesale market in Vashi (Mumbai area), retail prices of potatoes show no decline

Aiming to boost potato exports, the Indian government is considering identifying ‘pest-free zones’ for the staple in production clusters of the growing states like Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

India's potato exports jumped more than two-fold during April-December period of this fiscal to 2.5 lakh tonnes.

The Indian government has decided to remove the minimum export price of potato as its availability has increased and prices have eased in domestic markets.

Indian Potato chip, fries and flake manufacturers have urged the government to waive the 30% import duty on potato to improve supplies and check soaring prices at home.

Farmers and cold storage owners in India (Agra, UP) have lauded the decision to lift the ban on import of seed potatoes.

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.

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.

Potato prices are rising in North India due to a lack of supply

The Narendra Modi government (India) on Tuesday decided to bring onions and potatoes under the Essential Commodities Act (ECA) to curb black marketing and hoarding, blamed for recent surge in prices. This will empower states to impose caps on stocks of these two vegetables for traders.

Bending over backwards following pressure from other states and agitations by traders' associations there, the West Bengal government Monday relaxed its ban on export of potatoes

Farmers in Bihar's Nalanda district are happy that potatoes grown by them through organic farming will be exported to Russia, an official said on Friday.

Potato prices have not declined in the West Bengal despite the government banning potato export from August 1 from the state.

With potato prices at Rs 20 a kg in retail in the domestic market, traders from northern India have started to import Pakistani potatoes that are 20% to 40% cheaper.

In Assam, a state in north east of India, an Inter State Potato Marketing System was successfully inaugurated by Assam Agriculture, Horticulture &Food Processing Minister Mr. Nilamoni Sen Deka at Gingia, Biswanath Chariali for the benefit of its potato growers.