Amid high potato prices, why Odisha is struggling to meet its demand

Sub : Geo

Sec : Eco Geo

In the news:

Odisha’s Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister, KC Patra, accused West Bengal‘s government of creating artificial scarcity of potatoes to damage Odisha’s BJP-led government’s reputation.

Odisha’s Dependency on Potatoes

Odisha relies heavily on potato imports, primarily from West Bengal, due to unsuitable agro-climatic conditions for potato cultivation.
West Bengal traders usually supply 150-200 trucks of potatoes daily to Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

Potato Production in India

In India, potatoes are grown during the rabi (winter-spring) season, mainly in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Assam, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
A small quantity of potato is also grown during the kharif (monsoon) season in Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
Global Ranking: India is the second-largest potato producer globally, after China.
Growth Trends: Between 1991-92 and 2020-21:
- Cultivation area doubled (11 to 22 lakh hectares).
- Production tripled (182 to 562 lakh metric tonnes).
- Productivity rose from 16 to 25 metric tonnes per hectare.
Top Producers (2021-22):
- Uttar Pradesh: 161 lakh tonnes.
- West Bengal: 124 lakh tonnes.
- Combined, they contribute nearly 50% of India’s total production (533 lakh tonnes).

Seasonal Price Variation:

Prices typically drop during the rabi (winter-spring) harvest but rise in summer and monsoon.
In 2024, prices surged nationwide due to supply constraints:
- Retail Prices: ₹38.08/kg on Dec 3, 2024 (55.49% higher YoY).
- Wholesale Prices: ₹3,121/quintal (69.63% higher YoY).

Impact of Rising Prices

Potatoes hold significant weight in inflation indices:
- Consumer Price Index (CPI): 0.98%.
- Wholesale Price Index (WPI): 0.28%.
Price volatility affects:
- Common households.
- Commercial sectors like hotels, restaurants, and catering (HoReCa).

Factors Behind Price Hike:

Production Decline:
- Potato output fell by 6% (567 lakh tonnes in 2023-24 vs. 601 lakh tonnes in 2022-23).
- Cultivation area slightly reduced to 23.22 lakh hectares in 2023-24.
Farmer Behavior:
- Lower prices in 2022-23 discouraged farmers from planting potatoes in 2023-24.
Regional Declines:
- Uttar Pradesh: Production decreased from 201.3 to 191.7 lakh tonnes.
- West Bengal: Sharper decline from 145 to 130 lakh tonnes.

Odisha’s Price Surge

Retail potato inflation in Odisha has consistently stayed above 60% since July 2024.
Wholesale inflation ranged between 77-79% during the same period.

Potato Propagation Summary

Seed Tuber Propagation

Potatoes are primarily grown by planting tubers.
Seed Selection:
- Use disease-free, well-sprouted tubers weighing 30-40 g each.
- Entire tubers are preferred, but large tubers can be cut to reduce costs and ensure uniform sprouting.
- Tubers should be cut longitudinally through the crown eye, treated with fungicide, and knives disinfected with potassium permanganate.
Challenges:
- High seed cost, bulky transportation, shortage of quality seeds, and virus infiltration are major concerns.

True Potato Seed (TPS) Propagation

TPS Overview:
- TPS is a botanical seed formed in the plant’s berries after fertilization.
- It significantly reduces seed rates from 2.5 tons/ha to about 200 g, saving resources.
Methods:
- Seedling Transplants: TPS seedlings are raised in nurseries and transplanted to fields for maturity.
- Seedling-Tubers: TPS seedlings are matured in nurseries to produce seedling-tubers, which are used in the next planting season.
Advantages:
- Reduces seed costs and dependency on bulky tubers.
- Ideal for areas like Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and northeastern states, where quality seed tubers are scarce or expensive.