'Potato crop likely to get damaged in Uttarakhand; no price impact'

NEW DELHI: Potato crop in Uttarakhand, which contributes about 10 per cent to the country's total output, is expected to get damaged due to recent flash floods but the Centre sees no adverse impact on prices.

"The damage to kharif potato crop in Uttarakhand is expected due to recent cloud burst," an internal report of the Agriculture Ministry said.

However, there may not be any significant impact on availability and prices because the state has very less share in the country's overall kharif potato output, it said.

About 20,000-22,000 hectare area is planted under kharif potato in Uttarakhand and harvesting has started, it added.

Last year, the state had produced 4.34 lakh tonnes of potato, while India's total output was 41 lakh tonnes.

On availability and price situation, the report said that very less arrival of fresh kharif potatoes are reported in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi. As a result, the new crop is being sold at higher prices as compared to the stored potatoes.

Much of the potato demand in the country is being fulfilled by stored potatoes of the last year's crop. The wholesale price of potato is ruling in the range of Rs 7.50 and Rs 17 per kg in producing and consuming states.

The kharif potato has been planted in 12,000-14,000 hectare in Himachal Pradesh and harvesting may begin from July, while sowing of kharif potato seed will start in Karnataka and Maharashtra from June-end onwards, it added.

Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Punjab and Gujarat are leading potato growing states in the country.