A wave of anxiety is sweeping through the potato-growing belt of Haryana, with farmers staring at massive financial losses due to a dramatic collapse in market prices. A combination of a bumper harvest and the sudden halt of exports to key neighbouring countries has created a perfect storm, leaving cultivators in distress.
A Bumper Crop Turns Bitter
The core of the problem lies in an unexpectedly high yield this season. Farmers in the Karnal district, a major potato-producing hub, report a significant increase in production. This bumper crop has led to a market glut, causing wholesale prices to plummet to a meager Rs 3 to Rs 4 per kilogram. For farmers, this price is far below the cost of cultivation, which they estimate to be between Rs 8 and Rs 10 per kg.
The situation is particularly dire in the Nilokheri and Indri areas of Karnal. Here, farmers are grappling with the dual challenge of low prices and the high cost of harvesting and transporting their produce to the market. Many feel that selling at current rates would mean incurring a direct loss on their investment of time, resources, and labour.
The Export Halt Aggravates the Crisis
Compounding the problem of oversupply is a critical breakdown in the export pipeline. Traditionally, a substantial portion of Haryana's potato crop finds its way to Pakistan and Bangladesh. However, exports to these countries have reportedly come to a standstill this season. The absence of this crucial external demand has removed a key price-supporting mechanism from the market, intensifying the domestic surplus and pushing prices further down.
Farmers and local leaders point to this export stoppage as a major factor behind the price crash. With the usual international outlets blocked, the entire surplus is now confined to the domestic market, creating an unsustainable supply-demand imbalance.
Mounting Losses and Pleas for Government Intervention
The financial implications are staggering. Early estimates from the farming community suggest that potato growers in the Karnal region alone could be facing collective losses exceeding Rs 100 crore. This potential loss highlights the scale of the crisis threatening the livelihoods of thousands of families dependent on this crop.
In response to the emergency, farmers are urgently appealing to both the state and central governments for intervention. Their key demands include:
- Immediate government procurement of potatoes at a Minimum Support Price (MSP) that covers their cost of production.
- Restarting or facilitating export channels to neighbouring countries to reduce domestic surplus.
- Exploring alternative measures, such as using potatoes for cattle feed or in mid-day meal schemes, to absorb the excess stock.
The current scenario underscores the vulnerability of farmers to market volatility and external trade disruptions. With potatoes now being harvested and arriving in mandis in large volumes, the need for a swift policy response is critical to prevent a full-blown agrarian crisis in the region.
