According to VJ Waman, a leading trader at APMC (Agriculture Produce Market Commission) market, potato-producing centres of Maharashtra-Pune, Satara and Sangli were severely damaged due to incessant rainfall which delayed crop arrivals.

Moreover, in the absence of arrival of potatoes from adjoining areas, the demand in Mumbai had to be met with potatoes lying in cold storages in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Further, the daily arrival of such potatoes from these centres dwindled down to just 400 tonnes against the required 700 tonnes.

Potatoes prices are likely to remain in the current range till the end of February when the new crop is expected to hit the market. The crop whichnormally arrives in the second week of December, will be delayed as the first round of sowing has been completely washed off.

Sowing for a new crop is expected to begin in a week or so with the weather holding good for the last one week. The crop will mature by January and will start arriving in the market by end February, if there are no rains during the gestation period, he added.

The heavy rains and the resulting crop damages have left the farmers in dire straits with heavy financial losses. The farmers may recover their losses only if the second round of sowing bears fruit.

In a recent move, the central government has decided to ban export of potatoes for three months up to December-end. This move may help in increasing the availability of potatoes in the domestic markets and may bring some respite from the soaring prices.