Bengal's Record Potato Harvest Sparks Fears of Distress Sales and Financial Crisis
An unprecedented bumper potato harvest in West Bengal, driven by exceptionally favourable weather conditions and remarkably high yields, has ignited widespread fears of large-scale distress sales and mounting financial stress across the entire agricultural supply chain.
Market Disparity and Middlemen Control
Despite the record production, the benefits are conspicuously bypassing both ends of the supply chain. At the farm gate, potatoes are currently selling for a mere Rs 6 per kilogram. However, in Kolkata's retail markets, consumers are paying between Rs 14 and Rs 17 per kilogram, according to traders. This stark disparity underscores the dominant role of 'forey' or middlemen, who effectively control supply and pricing mechanisms, squeezing profits from farmers and inflating costs for end buyers.
Production Surplus and Storage Shortages
Conservative estimates place total potato production at approximately 1.5 crore tonnes, with traders suggesting output could surpass 1.7 crore tonnes by the end of the harvesting season in April. With the state's domestic consumption hovering around 60 lakh tonnes, nearly 1 crore tonnes of surplus potatoes may struggle to find buyers or adequate storage space. West Bengal's 580 cold storages have a combined capacity of about 75 lakh tonnes, highlighting a critical infrastructure gap.
Government Perspectives and Export Potential
Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Pradip Mazumdar stated, "There is no dearth of demand in the domestic market. If farmers, with the help of technology and science, can produce potatoes with low moisture content, there can be export potential." Agri-marketing Minister Becharam Manna pointed out that in 2024, when production had dipped, retail prices in Kolkata soared to Rs 45 per kilogram. "If the government did not intervene, people would have been forced to buy potatoes for Rs 55 a kg," he said, adding that price fluctuations are a continuous process largely controlled by middlemen.
Agricultural Success Turns to Crisis
Potato remains one of the largest cash crops in Bengal, cultivated across 5 lakh hectares. While the bumper harvest reflects significant agricultural success, the lack of market alignment threatens to transform this abundance into a severe crisis, according to industry insiders.
Cold Storage Industry Warnings
Sunil Kumar Rana, President of the West Bengal Cold Storage Association, noted, "This time, the yields are exceeding 30 tonnes per hectare. But higher production without market support may lead to a sharper price fall than that last year." The industry is still recovering from the previous season. In 2025, the state offered a minimum support price of Rs 900 per quintal under a procurement scheme, but open market prices plummeted to around Rs 600 per quintal, resulting in losses of Rs 2,200 crore on 72 lakh tonnes of stored potatoes.
Subhajit Saha, Vice-President of the West Bengal Cold Storage Association, warned, "If production is even higher this year, a deeper crash is feared." Cold storage operators, already grappling with rising power tariffs, labour costs, maintenance expenses, and compliance requirements, caution that without urgent policy intervention, both farmers and storage owners will face severe financial strain.
Calls for Immediate Action
At its 61st Annual General Meeting in Kolkata, the West Bengal Cold Storage Association urged the state government to take immediate steps to prevent distress sales and wastage. Saha emphasized, "Without buyer-seller meets and smoother inter-state marketing, there's a risk of large quantities rotting in the fields." Patit Paban De, former president of the association, concluded, "Unless steps are taken to stabilise prices and expand market access, Bengal's record potato output could turn into a burden."
