West Bengal farmers cut area under early potato varieties due to ‘unremunerative’ price

West Bengal, the country’s second-largest potato grower, is witnessing a decline in acreage for the early varieties of the spud, as prices have remained low and unremunerative for farmers.

If prices do not increase next month, the State may see a fall in the total area under potato cultivation during the 2026-27 season. For the 2025-26 season, area under potato was around 5 lakh hectares.

Currently, truck-loading prices at cold storage gates for the average variety of Jyoti potato are ruling at a ₹500 per quintal, some ₹100 lower than the same period last year.

‘Depressed prices’

“Out of ₹500 per quintal, a potato farmer’s earning is only ₹150-170, which is lower than the cost of production. Throughout the year the farmers had to resort to distress sale. So, for the early varieties, mainly Pukhraj, area under cultivation currently is less compared to the same period last year. There has been a lesser demand for seeds,” Patit Paban De, a senior member of West Bengal Cold Storage Association, told businessline.

Prices have remained depressed throughout the year as Bengal witnessed a record potato production of around 140 lakh tonne for 2025-26, highest in the last five years, backed by higher yield due to favourable weather conditions. The bumper output led to an unprecedented high level of loading in cold storages at close to 80 lakh tonnes this year, compared to a normal loading of around 70-72 lakh tonne.

“Cold storages across the State are still holding around 37-38 per cent of their total loading capacity. It is very high for this time of the year. Farmers are making losses. The total area under cultivation may decrease for the 2026-27 season, if prices do not rise in the next one month,” De said.

In Kolkata markets, wholesale prices of Jyoti potato are prevailing at around 11-12 per kg against ₹15 a year ago.

“As farmers incurred huge losses this year, they are not in a position to start sowing the early varieties,” said Paschim Banga Pragatishil Alu Byabsayee Samiti secretary Lalu Mukherjee.

Plea for subsidy

Both West Bengal Cold Storage Association and Paschim Banga Pragatishil Alu Byabsayee Samiti have urged the Suvendu Adhikari-led West Bengal government to provide a subsidy to facilitate movement of surplus potatoes to other States via road transport as well.

Notably, the government in September announced that it would provide a subsidy of ₹100 per quintal to facilitate interstate trade of potato via railway rakes to support farmers and traders.

“We have urged the government to provide a similar subsidy for interstate trade via road transport as well. It will help farmers of our state to get remunerative prices for their produce,” said Mukherjee.

West Bengal used to sell around 20-25 lakh tonne of excess potatoes to other States every year. States like Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand and Assam were dependent on the spud grown in Bengal. However, the erstwhile Mamata Banerjee government had put a restriction on inter-state supply of the tuber in 2024 in a bid to maintain the stock and keep the prices under control. Following that move, potato traders in Bengal lost the majority of their markets to Uttar Pradesh. Later, the government withdrew the restrictions.

Published on October 24, 2026