Potato prices to increase in July

COIMBATORE: With potato prices expected to be around Rs 27 to Rs 28 per kg in the month of July, Rs 3 more than the prevailing prices, farmers are recommended to store and sell their produce after June.

Domestic Export and Marketing Intelligence Cell (DEMIC) functioning in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University here, analyzed the 10 years' prices of potato, which prevailed n the Nilgiris Cooperative Marketing Society, one of the big trading centres in India and showed the increase in the price in July.

The prevailing price of potato is Rs. 24 to Rs 25 per kg, which would remain stable till June.

Tamil Nadu produced 1,04,90 tonnes of potato from 4,190 hectares during 2011-12 out of the India's production of 414 lakh tonnes from 19.06 lakh hectares.

Potato is curretnly auctioned at Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,100 per quintal in Mettupalayam and reduction in planting area coupled with drought conditions, may result in a lesser arrivals and high prices, DEMIC said.