Odisha to Procure Potato from UP to End Dependency on West Bengal

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to procure potatoes from Uttar Pradesh to end potato crisis in the state because of over dependency on West Bengal for the tuber.

Speaking to newsmen, Odisha Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra said that the import of potatoes from West Bengal will be reduced and stopped gradually. According to him, from now on potatoes will come to Odisha from UP, not West Bengal.

A meeting was held with the traders’ union at the Lok Seva Bhawan where they agreed to procure the tuber from UP, the minister said. The Uttar Pradesh government will extend all support in this regard, Patra added.

The state government has taken this decision to alleviate the potato crisis in the state.

To meet the potato demand and its shortage in Odisha, the state government has made alternative arrangements to source high-quality potatoes from Uttar Pradesh. Odisha will now reduce its potato procurement from West Bengal as it is creating problems consistently. This will ensure a steady supply of good-quality potatoes to Odisha, said the state Food Minister.

The potato crisis remained unsolved despite Chief Minister Mohan Majhi meeting the West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee during the meeting of Niti Ayog in New Delhi with a  request to resolve the potato problem.