#POTATO #MEP #AGRICULTURE #EXPORT Potato production, as per provisional estimates submitted by States, indicate a 2.3 per cent fall in 2013-14 as compared to the last season. This information was given by Sanjeev Balyan, the Minister of State for #Agriculture, in a written reply to Rajya Sabha on Friday. The reasons given for the shortfall were untimely rains and blight disease during February and March this year. “The price rise in potato is not solely due to reduction in production but several factors such as seasonality, adverse weather conditions, cost of transportation, cold storage costs, speculation on impending shortage situation, rising demand due to increasing incomes, and urbanisation etc,” the Minister said. Among the important steps taken by the Government was the imposition of a minimum export price of $450/tonne since June 26 while stock limits have been imposed for a year under the Essential Commodities Act since July. State Governments have also been advised to take action against hoarding and black marketing by strictly enforcing the Prevention of Blackmarketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act (1980). Last month, to curb rising prices, the Government had decided to import potatoes from Europe and asked NAFED and the Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) to explore opportunities. Potatoes are being sold on average at ₹ 2,072/quintal in New Delhi as compared to ₹ 1,563/quintal at the same time last year, an increase of nearly 33 per cent.
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 11:16:11 +0000