Bhubaneswar, May 3: The state government has argued that the demand for potatoes in the state has soared following an increase in consumption especially in urban areas, where people prefer snacks and fast food made from the vegetable.
However, the Opposition has rejected the argument and accused the government of coming up with absurd theories to hide its failure to meet the requirements of the people and justify the shortage.
BJP vice-president Pratap Sarangi said: "It exposes the lack of sincerity of the state government. How many urban centres are there in Odisha? Mostly the people in rural areas depend on the potatoes, which is an essential vegetable for them. It is never interested to boost potato production and its marketing in the state."
Director horticulture Srikanta Prusty in a letter to the state government cited that the demand for potato has gone up due to change in food habits. "Due to gradual change in food habit the demand for potato consumption is increasing especially in urban areas for snacks and fast food where potatoes play a significant role in way of value addition in the processing sector," said Prusty.
Prusty said the state requires 12 lakh MT potatoes per annum to meet its need. "As it is unable to produce the required potatoes, most of the state's shortfall is met by neighbouring states such as Bengal," he said.
In 2016-17, potato was cultivated over an area of 25,218 hectares and the production was 3 lakh MT. "At present, the state produces around 20-25 per cent of its requirement," he said.
He said the potato mission was a success in the state. Before starting the potato mission, he said, there were 27 functional cold storages in the state with a storage capacity of 1.37 lakh MT.
After completion of the mission, the number of cold storages has increased to 35 with a storage capacity of 1.68 lakh MT of potatoes.
On the price regulation of potatoes, he said: "The wholesale market price of potatoes depends on the all-India mandi prices and the real market price is fixed accordingly." At present, the potato is currently being sold at Rs 12 per kg.
