The Odisha government anticipates overcoming the potato supply crisis within the next few days by sourcing the tubers from Uttar Pradesh. To date, Odisha has procured 140 truckloads of potatoes from Uttar Pradesh, ensuring a steady supply to meet the demand and stabilize the market. This strategic move aims to address the shortage and provide relief to consumers across the state.
The state faced the shortage because of tardy supply from neighbouring West Bengal. According to Odisha Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister K C Patra, the availability of potatoes in the state will improve once sufficient supply comes from UP.
At the same time, the Odisha government is toying with the idea of buying potatoes from Punjab to improve supplies and reduce prices of the tuber, Patra said after meeting representatives of the traders' association, owners of cold storage units, and retailers.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had on July 27 met his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee in New Delhi and requested her to streamline potato supply to the state, but reports say the arrangement did not work out.
