The premature showers registered in November 2021 affected the spud production in Bengal in such a way that the crop’s price is likely to be high this year, Indian experts estimate, with the potato liftings just started in the state.

A senior official with the West Bengal’s Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare told Telegraph India that untimely rain in November last year, 8m metric tons to 8.5m metric tons of potato would be produced in Bengal this year against an average annual production of 10m tons.

“The lesser production would make the crop costly this year,” the source added. Officials mentioned also that there was a scarcity because of the reduced crop, with the farmers selling their produce at USD0.20 to USD0.23 a kg from their fields.

“This means the produce will be available in the market at about USD0.35 to USD0.39 a kg if storage and transportation costs are added. […] Potatoes were available under USD0.26 a kg throughout last year,” an official declared.

As the lower production is expected to push up prices purely because of demand and supply mismatch, it is likely to help farmers in better price realization from the crop.

“As good quality seeds which were sown in November were damaged, the farmers had to rely on old and inferior quality seeds when they sowed potatoes again. That is why the product will be less but it has come as a blessing in disguise for the farmers as they are likely to recover a part of their loss,” said a potato trader.

The lower production will also help the state government as it will not have to spend on subsidies for farmers.

“The state had given various subsidies to potato farmers whenever a bumper production took place. This year, the government will not have to intervene to help the farmers, which means a savings of around USD76,56m,” another source concluded.