West Bengal Engages SHGs to Stabilize Potato Prices Amid Traders' Strike

The West Bengal government is engaging self-help groups (SHGs) to sell potatoes at reasonable prices amid a traders' strike protesting alleged administrative harassment. The move aims to maintain potato supply and stabilize prices, with cold storage units ensuring a steady provision of potatoes at Rs 26 per kg. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has directed officials to control vegetable prices, and task forces are conducting market raids to prevent hoarding.

The West Bengal government has taken a strategic step to deploy self-help groups (SHGs) for selling potatoes at affordable prices as traders strike, objecting to what they claim is harassment by authorities over tuber exports to other states, a state minister revealed on Wednesday. This intervention ensures that the potato supply remains unhindered despite the protest, and forms part of a larger effort to curb the rising prices of the essential tuber, stated Agriculture Marketing Minister Becharam Manna.

"To sustain a stable potato supply, the government is leveraging SHGs alongside the Sufal Bangla network, which operates nearly 500 sales points, both fixed and mobile. Additionally, we will utilize our allocated 20 percent of stored potatoes, with cold storage units committed to providing them at Rs 26 per kg. Our goal is to ensure a consistent supply," Manna informed PTI.

Concurrent with these measures, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee instructed officials to take firm actions to control vegetable prices, including those of potatoes. Task forces have been conducting market inspections to combat hoarding activities. Consequently, potato prices have seen a slight dip, but the ongoing traders' strike could still pose a challenge to supply, an official warned. Currently, potatoes in retail markets are priced between Rs 35 and Rs 38 per kg. Meanwhile, the Progressive Potato Traders' Association (PPTA) plans to convene to deliberate their next steps. According to PPTA Secretary Lalu Mukherjee, the strike could be called off given state assurances for a mutually agreeable resolution, emphasizing that traders are not opposed to selling potatoes at fair prices.

(With inputs from agencies.)