West Bengal Agriculture Minister Shobhandeb Chattopadhyay stated that an announcement will be made soon. The decision comes as tuber prices are falling due to increased production this year. It has caused concern among the state's potato farmers.
"Our Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, is deeply concerned about the downward trend in potato prices. We have decided to compensate farmers for any loss if potato prices fall below Rs 6.50 per kg," Chattopadhyay said.
He was speaking at the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Rural Connect event. "We are very interested in assisting farmers' produce organizations. We must also assist them with marketing, and we have formed a committee of seven departments to assist them," Chattopadhyay said.
In addition, the government has begun a project to produce potato seeds in order to reduce reliance on imports from Punjab.
Chattopadhyay stated that seed production has already begun in the Medinipur and Nadia districts, with a focus on virus-free potato seeds. Crop insurance is also provided by the government through Bangla Shasya Bima.
While most farmers receive free insurance, potato and sugarcane farmers must pay a fee of four to five percent of the yearly premium, according to officials. The government paid compensation of Rs 650 crore last year, and assessments for this year are underway.
In addition, due to a labour shortage, the government is encouraging mechanization and providing subsidies to farmers who adopt modern technologies.
