- विज्ञापन -
Kolkata: The retail price of potatoes in West Bengal, which is already elevated, may rise further next week as the traders’ association plans to strike over the state government’s ban on exporting these vegetables to other states.
Currently, the prices for two popular potato varieties, “Jyoti” and “Chandramukhi,” range from Rs 35 to Rs 42 per kilogram. This marks the second strike by the Progressive Potato Traders’ Association in just over three months, with the last one occurring in August.
An association representative stated that despite some stabilization in potato prices, the government has imposed a ban on exports to states like Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh, which rely heavily on West Bengal for their supply. They claim the ban was enacted without formal notification, leading to police halting trucks at state borders and penalizing traders. This situation has made it difficult for them to operate their businesses, prompting the decision to initiate an indefinite strike starting Monday unless the issue is resolved.
The export ban was implemented on November 22, following Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s concerns about exporting potatoes and onions before fulfilling the state’s internal needs. She emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting farmers and stated that exports cannot proceed until local demands are met.
