West Bengal cold storage association voices concerns over potato movement ban

Kolkata: The West Bengal Cold Storage Association, the only active association of cold storages in the state, today held a press conference at the Press Club, Kolkata, to draw the attention of farmers, consumers, and the general public to the severe damage caused by the recent ban on the inter-state movement of potato from West Bengal. The Press Meet was attended by: Subhajit Saha, Vice President of WBCSA; Patit Paban De, Gobind Kajaria, Past Presidents of WBCSA; Dilip Chatterjee, Pradip Lodha, Chairman of District Committees of WBCSA; Swarup Kumar Nayek & SK Jiaur Rahman, Executive Committee Members and other eminent members of the Association.

In West Bengal, potato production has traditionally been consumed in a 60:40 ratio, with 60% consumed within the state and the remaining 40% traded with other states. However, due to the state's recent apprehensions over potential shortages in potato stocks stored in cold storage units, a complete ban was imposed on the inter-state movement of potato, irrespective of the variety of potato being traded.

The potato varieties primarily consumed within Bengal are Jyoti and Chandramukhi, while other varieties grown in areas such as Bankura, Medinipur, parts of Bardhaman (Guskara block), and Hooghly (Goghat block) are typically traded in neighboring states. This ban has caused a massive disruption in these regions, where large stocks of potatoes are now being held in cold storage units, threatening to go unsold before the new crop arrives at the end of December 2024. Should these stocks remain in cold storage even after the new harvest, there is risk of spoilage, which would result in significant financial losses for both farmers/hirers and cold storage operators

On this occasion, Sri. Subhajit Saha, Vice President of West Bengal Cold Storage Association, said, “The ban on inter-state potato movement is causing irreparable damage to the cold storage industry in West Bengal. The cold storages in South Bengal, particularly in Bankura, Medinipur, and parts of Bardhaman and Hooghly, are facing the full brunt of this decision. With large stocks of potatoes lying unused, farmers, especially small and medium-sized ones, are left with no recourse. The cold storage industry is already facing a challenge with low occupancy rates, and this restriction is further exacerbating the crisis. If these stocks are not cleared, it will lead to distress sales and spoilage, devastating both the potato growers and the rural economy.”

He further added, "The cold storage system plays a vital role in ensuring stable potato prices and minimizing the wastage of crops. The current situation threatens the livelihood of many, and unless this ban is reconsidered, we fear the consequences will be disastrous for both the economy and the farmers of West Bengal."

The cold storage industry in West Bengal has already been struggling with capacity utilization issues, and this ban has the potential to worsen the situation, particularly in the south Bengal region. Cold storage operators and farmers are deeply concerned about the potential monetary losses if the situation is not addressed immediately. The West Bengal Cold Storage Association urges the authorities to reconsider the restrictions on potato trade, as the negative impact on the potato growers, traders, and the rural economy in general is becoming increasingly severe.

It may be recalled here that the recent ban has large impacted all neighbouring states of West Bengal and including Northeast region, where majority of potato traders are dependable over the supply of potatoes from different cold storages located across Bengal.