Market Update: Low Prices Continue to Impact Farmers in Chakarpur Mandi, Kanpur (March 28, 2026)

Kanpur (Chakarpur) Market Update

The potato market at Chakarpur Mandi in Kanpur continues to face challenging conditions, with farmers struggling due to low prices despite reduced arrivals. The current situation has been described as a “grahn” (eclipse) on farmer livelihoods, highlighting the severity of the crisis.

Market Insights & Price Trends

High-Quality Potatoes (Chipsona / VVIP Highland):
₹700 – ₹800 per quintal

Low-Quality / Affected Stock (Chechak/Scab):
Around ₹400 per quintal

• Demand remains strong for high-quality produce
• However, there is a surplus of low-quality potatoes, keeping overall prices under pressure

Market Trends

• Even with reduced arrivals, prices are not improving significantly
• Many farmers are struggling to cover basic harvesting costs
• Quality gap is playing a major role in price realization

Key Challenges Faced by Farmers
📉 Low Demand Pressure

• Reduced consumption from small businesses like street food vendors
• Lower buying activity impacting mandi sales

⛽ Rising Costs

• Increased diesel and LPG prices are affecting overall demand
• Small businesses are shutting down or reducing operations

Suggested Solutions

• Market experts suggest government intervention to stabilize prices
• Proposal to purchase low-quality potatoes at ~₹500 per quintal
• These can be utilized in gaushalas (cow shelters) as cattle feed

This step could:
✔ Support farmers by ensuring minimum returns
✔ Reduce excess low-quality supply in the market
✔ Help improve prices for better-quality produce

Outlook

The market remains under pressure in the short term, especially due to surplus low-quality stock and weak demand.

If intervention measures are introduced and demand improves, price stability may be achievable in the coming weeks.