Potato prices slide further; delay in Bhavantar Bharpai compensation pushes white potato farmers to the brink: BKU (Charuni)

KURUKSHETRA: Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) has written to Haryana chief minister (CM), expressing grave concern over the continued fall in potato prices across mandis in the state and the delay in implementing the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana (BBY) (Price Deficiency Scheme) compensation. The union warned that white potato growers are facing a severe financial crisis and are on the verge of ruin due to the government’s inaction.This season, the potato farmers are facing a double hit of low price and spread of fungal disease in standing crops, which has tensed them for the return from the crop. In the region's markets, the white potato is selling at about Rs 390-510 per quintal and the red potato at Rs 700-800 per quintal. The market committee officials say that due to heavy arrival of potato and a stable demand, the prices are sliding down.In its letter, the BKU (Charuni) stated that potato prices have declined further in Haryana’s agricultural markets, particularly in Panchkula, Sirsa, Sonipat, Yamunanagar, Ambala, and Kurukshetra district mandis such as Pipli, Shahabad and Babain. The prices of white potatoes, the union said, have fallen well below the cost of production, making cultivation economically unviable for farmers.The farmers’ body pointed out a major disparity in price assessment, noting that while white potato prices have crashed, red and diamond variety potato prices remain relatively higher. “Because mandi averages or modal prices are calculated by combining both varieties, the overall price appears inflated.” This, the union alleged, is being used as a basis to exclude white potato farmers from the benefits of the BBY, causing direct financial loss to them.Calling the practice unjust, the BKU (Charuni) argued that when the actual sale price of white potatoes is extremely low, clubbing it with red potatoes to calculate an average is unfair and misleading. The union demanded that the two varieties be treated separately for price assessment and compensation purposes.The union also alleged serious lapses in the digital procurement system. Despite the arrival of the potato crop in mandis, verification of farmers’ registered produce on the portal has not yet been completed, the farm union wrote. “As a result, quotas are not being issued on the e-procurement portal and online gate passes are not being generated in mandis. Due to these hurdles, farmers are being forced to sell their produce at distress prices”, the union claimed.Listing its key demands, the BKU Charuni called for separate price determination for red, diamond and white variety potatoes, calculation of price deficiency compensation strictly on the basis of actual mandi sale prices, immediate verification of registered potato crops on the portal, restoration of the online gate pass system by issuing quotas on the e-procurement portal, and the immediate implementation of the BBY.The union warned that if the government fails to intervene promptly, white potato growers will suffer heavy losses, for which the state government and concerned departments will be solely responsible. It further cautioned that if farmers’ demands are not addressed without delay, the union would be compelled to adopt an agitation path.About the incidents of fungal disease in potato crops, Dr Amit, horticulture specialist at Krish Vigyan Kendra, Tepla (Ambala) said, “The situation from fungal disease is currently under control. Some cases of early blight have come to light and the farmers should use fungicide to protect their crop and avoid loss of yield. Fog and cold has started to increase, so farmers should keep their crops watered a little.”