Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to procure potatoes from Uttar Pradesh through NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd) to stem the potato crisis in the eastern state.
Food Supply and Consumer Welfare Minister KC Patra said the decision has been taken to supply potatoes to consumers at Rs 30 per kg.
Odisha has been facing an acute potato crisis after neighbouring West Bengal stopped transportation of the tuber and traders from the state refused to purchase it from Uttar Pradesh stating that people don’t like the variety available in the northern state.
The price of potatoes in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack was as high as Rs 60 per kg Thursday.
“The state government will purchase potatoes through NAFED and supply those to consumers at Rs 30 per kg,” he said.
The minister said the state government has already placed an order through NAFED for procuring 300 metric tons of potatoes in the first phase.
“It will be available in the state by next weekend. In the first phase, it will be made available through government retail shops in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Sambalpur and Berhampur,” the minister said.
The minister has also directed officials to take necessary steps to ensure hassle-free sale of potatoes among the people.
PTI