Odisha Potato Crisis Worsens: Stocks Deplete, Prices Soar

Bhubaneswar: Odisha is facing a deepening potato crisis, with the staple vegetable vanishing from major markets, including Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. According to local traders, the potato supply is rapidly depleting, causing significant concern.

In Cuttack, no potato trucks have arrived at the wholesale Chhatra Bazar, leading to a sharp price increase. The cost per kilogram has surged from Rs 35 to Rs 50 in just a few days.

Bhubaneswar is experiencing a similar situation, with potato stocks disappearing from godowns and no new consignments arriving at the Aiginia godown for the past two to three days.

Traders report that consignments from West Bengal are being hindered, with trucks facing delays and demands for bribes, causing some to arrive damaged. Efforts to procure potatoes from Uttar Pradesh have also failed to deliver the needed supplies, despite state government assurances.

The state government had initially planned to source potatoes from Uttar Pradesh amid supply issues with West Bengal, which traders accuse of blackmailing. Officials now indicate that they may seek supplies from Punjab to mitigate the crisis.