Banaskantha Potato Farmers Hold Protest Rally as Prices Fall; 7-Day Ultimatum to Government
Deesa, Banaskantha: Potato farmers in Banaskantha held a protest rally over falling potato prices and rising costs, and submitted a memorandum to the Deesa Deputy Collector demanding immediate relief.
Farmers say prevailing potato prices are below their cost of production, making it difficult to recover expenses on seed, fertilisers, pesticides, labour and irrigation.
In addition to cultivation costs, farmers are bearing cold-storage rent, labour and transportation expenses, while finding buyers at viable prices remains difficult.
According to the report, substantial potato stocks are still lying in cold storages:
- 🥔 Table Potatoes: 2,36,11,181 MT
- 🍟 Processing Potatoes: 1,19,83,576 MT
- 🌱 Seed Potaoes: 25,00,898 MT
- 📦 Total Stored Stock: 3,80,95,655 MT
The Bharatiya Kisan Sangh submitted a memorandum to the Deesa Deputy Collector, seeking an immediate special relief package from the Gujarat government.
Farmers have warned that if a relief package is not announced within seven days, a larger agitation will be launched across Banaskantha.
Relief being sought includes support towards cold-storage charges or measures that enable farmers to sell their stored potatoes and reduce mounting losses.
The situation highlights the pressure on Banaskantha's potato farmers as weak market prices, significant unsold stocks and continuing storage costs combine to squeeze farm incomes.