Odisha government says will resolve potato issue

Bhubaneswar, March 24 (IANS) The Odisha government will commence procurement of the potato crop in 11 districts of the state in view of distress sales of the tuber by farmers, Food and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Dasburma assured the state assembly on Tuesday.

"In order to create a buffer stock for potatoes, Markfed and Udyan Fresh have been asked to procure potatoes. While the procurement has already started in Bargarh district, arrangements are being made for it in other districts," said Dasburma.

Earlier, the assembly witnessed uproar on the issue with opposition members demanding that the government inform the house about steps it was taking to resolve the issue.

The potato issue rocked the assembly on Tuesday, forcing the speaker to adjourn the house twice.

The potato glut in the state forcing farmers to resort to distress sales follows an acute shortage of the tuber in the state in July-August 2014. The state government had then provided Rs.300 crore for Potato Mission to promote cultivation of the tuber in Odisha.

The scenario has changed in barely a few months. Sensing better returns, farmers grew more potatoes, but there are now no takers, leading to distress sales.

Agriculture, cooperation and food and consumer welfare ministers discussed about procurement of the staple food from farmers, who are selling their products at lower cost as there is lack of storage facilities.

The government-procured potatoes would be stored with Markfed and other private players, Dasburma said expressing confidence that the distress sale of potatoes would be over within two days.

Cooperation Minister Damodar Rout said a total of 6,600 tonnes of potatoes will be procured from farmers. But the state has no sufficient cold storage facilities to stock them, he added.

Rout said six cold storages were functional at present and the government was taking steps to operate the remaining 12 cold storages in the state by next year.

The government took steps to promote potato cultivation after facing an acute shortage of potatoes last year after the West Bengal government imposed curbs on potato export.