Potato seeds will be produced in this state itself to reduce dependence on other states. For this purpose, the state government will open potato seed production centres in the coming days. Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee gave this assurance at an election rally at Sahapur field in Nalikul on Wednesday. Giving a message of standing by potato farmers, Mamata said, “The BJP is playing games with potato farmers. They can’t play otherwise, so they are wearing garlands around their necks. Wear that garland in Uttar Pradesh. Potato farmers there don’t get proper prices.”
While giving examples of how her government has stood by potato farmers, she said that they have increased the price of potatoes here to ₹950 per quintal. Provided cold storage facilities to preserve 30 lakh tonnes of potatoes and even buy potatoes from farmers through Sufal Bangla. She said, "We buy potatoes for Ma Canteen. We also buy potatoes for ICDS centres and mid-day meals.”
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Drawing a comparison with Yogi Adityanath’s state, Mamata said, “You don’t have crop insurance. But here, we have spent thousands of crores to provide crop insurance to farmers. When crops are destroyed by pests or floods occur, farmers in this state get compensation. There is also crop insurance for potato farmers. We have also given compensation to those whose potatoes have been damaged.”
Reassuring Hooghly’s potato farmers, the Chief Minister said, “Potatoes are also going outside. If you want, sell more outside—we have no objection.” At that time, someone from the stage said, “Didi, the Centre is not providing trains to send potatoes.” Mamata immediately responded, “What if they don’t give trains? Send potatoes together by trucks and lorries.” She further alleged, “The BJP will not provide rakes for potato farmers. But they have given trains to bring outsiders so that they can vote for the BJP. They haven’t given a single penny to potato farmers, but they have increased fertiliser prices.”
Farm support, logistics and pricing take centre stage
While speaking on stage, reminiscing about the past, Mamata said that she came to Nalikul from school in her childhood during her three-day camp there. She further said that she knows and understand everything about Hooghly district.
She added, “Remember, this time’s vote is a fight to protect the existence of Bengal and Bengalis. So cast your vote yourself.” After this, lining up Trinamool candidates Swati Khandkar, Becharam Manna and Karabi Manna from Chanditala, Singur and Haripal respectively, the leader said, “You are our strength. So make our candidates win by votes and stop the conspirators.”
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Lalu Mukhopadhyay, secretary of the Progressive Potato Traders’ Association, welcomed the Chief Minister’s decision to produce potato seeds in the state to protect the interests of farmers. He informed that every year, about 1,000 trucks loaded with potato seeds enter the state from Punjab. Each truck contains, on average, about 500 packets (50 kg) of potato seeds. The prices of this huge quantity are controlled by traders in Punjab, who increase prices at will. If the government produces potato seeds, it will be able to regulate prices.
Singur’s Trinamool candidate Becharam Manna said that the way the government has bought potatoes at support prices to prevent distress sales is unprecedented. This was unthinkable during the Left era. Where the Uttar Pradesh government is buying potatoes at a minimum rate of ₹650 per quintal, their government is directly buying potatoes from farmers at ₹950 per quintal.
