March 22: Traders are expecting potato prices to soar by more than 100 per cent after summer. According to them, the main reason for this is the unseasonal rainfall, which has destroyed some of the crops in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. They expect farmers to cash in on this opportunity by warehousing huge quantities of potatoes and selling them later at higher prices.The farmers are expecting to earn Rs 750 to Rs 1,000 per quintal between June and August. Currently, wholesale prices for potatoes from Uttar Pradesh are quoted around Rs 550 to Rs 600 per quintal, the produce from Gujarat is ruling at Rs 480 to Rs 550, while potatoes from Maharashtra are ruling at around Rs 400.
These prices are much above the levels ruling last year during the same period. The Uttar Pradesh crop was quoting at Rs 250-400 while the Maharashtra crop was quoting at only around Rs 200 last year.
The produce from Maharashtra is expected to be quite low as compared to the other states and the potatoes are also said to be of lowerquality, which accounts for the low pricing of the harvest.
The crop in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh has been partially ruined by unseasonal rains in November and December, 1997. The growth of these crops has also been hampered by of dull weather. The yield of the crop has also fallen to around five tonnes per acre as compared to the earlier yield of 10 tonnes per acre. Traders fear that diseases like blight will further hamper the growth.
Madhya Pradesh and Bengal have had a bumper crop this year, which has ensured a steady flow of potatoes into the market and also for exports.
The unexpected rains are in fact acting as a boon for farmers who had relled under huge losses last year. The farmers had had a bumper crop last year which resulted in very low prices for the produce. Prices during November and December 1997 were as low as Rs 100 per quintal.
In India, the crop is grown all round the year in different parts of the country, which also ensures a steady flow of the produce. The crop starts arrivingfrom Punjab's Jallandhar district in December and from Uttar Pradesh in January. The Maharashtra crop is available during the month of February and April.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
