India: Poor UP Crop Lifts Potato Prices.

A poor crop in Uttar Pradesh has begun to drive potato prices up. Besides, arrivals are almost over in key-growing States such as West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh.On Wednesday, the modal price or rates at which most trades took place increased to Rs 350 a quintal from Rs 340 on Tuesday at the Agra Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) yard. Arrivals were 1,200 tonnes. In Burdwan APMC yard in West Bengal, the modal price was Rs 540 with arrivals being 1,500 tonnes. Prices are up Rs 110 since the beginning of this month with arrivals dropping. In Indore, trading is done by the tuber being sold from cold storages. Usually, arrivals in Madhya Pradesh get over in 25 days before the beginning of April. This year, arrivals were depleted 15 days as the crop in the central State was affected by frost. “Prices of potato delivered from cold storages are Rs 1,000 a quintal. They could increase further,” said Mr Ajay Agrawal, a trader at the Aloo-Piyaz mandi in Indore.

Potato from cold storage costs higher due to storage charges. “Storing potato is a bit expensive. Prices could gain another Rs 200 a quintal,” said Mr Agrawal.The potato trade had been awaiting the Uttar Pradesh crop eagerly but it has been hit by an indifferent weather this time. “The Uttar Pradesh crop was first affected by unseasonal rain and then hot weather. Both alternated affecting the crop,” said Mr Agrawal. Though export enquiries are coming in for the Indian crop, prices are seen as unfeasible.

This season, the potato crop has been estimated at a record 40 million tonnes against 35.88 million tonnes last season, mainly in view of higher acreage under the crop. India contributes over 10 per cent to the global production of 321 million tonnes. In Uttar Pradesh, potato is grown in over 5.5 lakh hectares and production in the State is nearly 14 million tonnes (mt). West Bengal, with a production of over 8 mt, is the second largest producer. Potato in Madhya Pradesh is grown in some 80,000 acres with production in the State being a little over 1 mt, making it the fifth-largest producer. Prices, however, compared with the same time last year are still lower.

Source : freshplaza.com