Kolkata:The West Bengal Cold Storage Association (WBCSA), the sole active body representing cold storage operators in the state, held a press conference at the Press Club, Kolkata, highlighting a sharp disparity between wholesale and retail potato prices and its devastating effects on farmers and the cold storage industry.
The event saw the presence of Sri Sunil Kumar Rana, President of WBCSA; Sri Subhajit Saha, Vice President; Sri Tarun Kanti Ghosh, Past President; Sri Dilip Chatterjee; Sri Kaushik Kundu, Chairman of District Committees; SK Jiaur Rahman, Executive Committee Member, along with other eminent members of the association.
Key Concerns Raised
- Record Stocking of Potatoes:
This year, 70.85 lakh metric tonnes of potatoes have been stored in the state’s cold storages. Traditionally, 60% of the produce is consumed within West Bengal, while 40% is traded with other states. However, due to last season’s ban on inter-state movement, an additional 10 lakh metric tonnes of early variety potatoes were stored, leading to record load levels. - Farmers Hit by Price Crash:
The state government had declared a minimum support price (MSP) of ₹9/kg for farmers. Initially, in May 2025, stocks were sold at ₹15/kg, but within two weeks prices plummeted to ₹11-12/kg (dala quality) at Singur wholesale markets and ₹9-10/kg for average quality potatoes in districts like Burdwan, Bankura, Medinipur, and North Bengal.
Farmers are now suffering losses of ₹400–₹500 per quintal, despite 75–80% of the stored stock belonging to them. - Threat to Future Cultivation & Cold Storage Viability:
Sri Sunil Kumar Rana warned, “The current disparity between wholesale and retail potato prices is unsustainable and is directly harming farmers, who have stored nearly 80% of the crop this season, while also threatening the viability of the cold storage industry. We urge the Government to step in urgently with supportive measures such as procurement at MSP, promotion of inter-state trade, and incorporation of potatoes in public welfare schemes like mid-day meals. Without timely intervention, not only will the rural economy suffer, but the entire ecosystem of potato cultivation and storage in West Bengal could face a severe crisis.”
Government’s Proposed Measures
To tackle the crisis, the government is considering the following steps:
- Procurement of 15% of preserved stock at MSP.
- Inclusion of potatoes in mid-day meal schemes to boost consumption.
- Promotion of inter-state and international potato trade.
- Transport subsidies to encourage trade beyond Bengal.
Why It Matters
Failure to stabilize potato prices could result in reduced cultivation next season, creating a demand-supply imbalance, weakening the rural economy, and leading to underutilization of cold storage capacity across the state.
