Farmers Movement Archive

Telangana: New central Bill may push potato prices up

HYDERABAD: The new Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020, removed potatoes and other items such as cereals, onion from the list of regulated items for stocking and will have impact on the prices on potatoes in the state. With potato being the second most consumed vegetable (as per a survey) and having local production capacity for only two months in a year, consumers may have to pay more for the vegetable, say experts. The city’s Bowenpally market gets the supply from Agra in Uttar Pradesh in all months of the year except for last week of December to February. Some produce also goes to the Gudimalkapur market. The produce from Agra and on few occasions, from Madya Pradesh, goes to the districts and is supplied in the city as well. Hyderabad gets about 30 tonnes of supply every day from UP. The neighbouring districts of Vikarabad, Medak and Zaheerabad produce local variety of potato but the arrivals from these districts occur only from last week of December to February. If there is excess production in the neighbouring districts, it is sent to Andhra Pradesh “The difference between produce from Agra variety and local variety is that Agra varieties can be stored for one week to 10 days, whereas local varieties cannot be stored for more than two days,” L Srinivas Goud, a potato marketing agent said. Experts say this is where price fluctuations can happen more. “If there is shortage of production, there will be stocking and the state having more extent of land will have control on prices. With this new amendment, it will increase,” Dr Ch Krishna Reddy, assistant professor, University of Hyderabad said. Agri and food processing consultant Srilekha R said, “If the potato is removed from regulated items for stocking, it will definitely lead to more fluctuations in prices.”

The Times of India

2020-09-24

Hyderabad