Odisha Government Intervenes to Control Potato Prices Amid Crisis

The Odisha government is selling potatoes at Rs 100 for 3 kg in retail shops through the public distribution system to address an acute potato crisis. This initiative comes after West Bengal halted transportation of potatoes. The government has sourced potatoes from Uttar Pradesh and urged traders to sell at reasonable prices.

The Odisha government has launched an initiative to sell potatoes at Rs 100 for 3 kg in retail shops across the state under the public distribution system (PDS). This intervention aims to alleviate the severe potato shortage plaguing the state.

According to Food Supply and Consumer Welfare Minister K C Patra, potatoes have been distributed throughout the state through NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd). The government's effort is intended to stabilize the market, and traders are expected to follow suit by selling potatoes at more reasonable prices.

The crisis originated when West Bengal ceased transporting potatoes to Odisha, and local traders declined to source the tuber from Uttar Pradesh due to consumer preference issues. Patra assured that potatoes would be sourced from Uttar Pradesh with support from the Railways Minister. Additionally, Sanjib Kumar Sahu, chief civil supplies officer in Odisha, confirmed the distribution of potatoes among PDS dealers.

(With inputs from agencies.)