Modi asks Pawar to start Market intervention scheme for potato

A delegation of north Gujarat’s potato growers today called on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today and demanded that government should declare support price for potato and if possible government should procure potatoes in this procurement season.

A delegation of potato growers told Chief Minister that for last two weeks there is plenty of arrival of potatoes, however prices have gone down to level as low as Rs. 400 per quintal. Cold storage are over-occupied and not available at all. Gujarat has produced 16.50 lakh ton potatoes. Such situation is painful for farmers because they had invested more.

In connection with this representation, the Chief Minister has urged central Agriculture Minister to immediately start the Market intervention scheme for procurement of potatoes on support prices. Gujarat Agriculture minister had already sent a letter in this regard on 19 March. Central government had procured crop in year 2008-09 in this manner. The Chief Minister said that in such scheme, centre and state government jointly share the cost equaly.