Mamata Banerjee government to set up a committee to monitor essential commodities prices, prevent black marketing

KOLKATA: In a bid to check sudden spurt in prices of essential commodities including potato and onion, the Mamata Banerjee government has decided to set up a committee that will monitor the price movement and prevent black marketing.

The West Bengal agriculture marketing department, which will set up the committee will monitor prices as the state government is committed to providing right prices to farmers and proper storage capacity for produce and a controlled market for consumers, said Mr Arup Roy, the state agricultural marketing minister.

The minister said that enhanced infrastructure will be put in place also over a period of time. "This means that more cold chains and cold storages in crop producing zones will be established besides the market monitoring mechanism," Mr Roy said.

The West Bengal government also wants to bring changes in the Agri-Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act in accordance to the policies of the central government.Mr Roy said, "We are sceptical about contract farming and trying to address the issue." He also said that contract farming needs the attention of the state administration.

Mr Asok Santra, CEO of West Bengal State Marketing Board said that they are in favour of private participation for the development of markets and cold chains in the state. The Mamta Banerjee led state government is hoping to ink collaboration with private firms for the development of cold storages in the state.