Over 6,000 quintals potatoes exported from Agra to Malaysia, Qatar, Dubai

By Siraj Qureshi: The potato, known as the king of vegetables, is in high demand in countries outside India. While potatoes are common in India and are easily available, the vegetable is purchased at exorbitant prices abroad.

According to information obtained by India Today, approximately 6,000 quintals of potatoes are being exported from Agra in response to demand from hotels and homes in Malaysia, Qatar, and Dubai.

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After flagging off trucks loaded with potatoes today, Agra’s Chief Development Officer A Manikandan told India Today that farmers have been paid Rs 900 per quintal for export potatoes, while the government’s procurement price is set at Rs 650 per quintal. Exporting potatoes is proving to be a profitable business for these farmers in this situation.

Kaushal Kishore, Deputy Director Horticulture, told India Today that in collaboration with the Horticulture Department and the Uttar Pradesh State Horticulture Cooperative Marketing Federation, Siddhi Vinayak Agro Processing Khandauli (Agra) has exported 6,000 quintals of potatoes abroad to ensure that potato farmers get the best price for their produce. Around 3000 quintal potatoes have been sent to Malaysia, and 3000 quintal potatoes have been sent to Dubai and Qatar.

Many trucks of potatoes have also been transported from Agra to Himmatnagar in Gujarat, where they will be exported to other countries via the Mundra Port. This LR variety potato was exported at a cost of Rs 900 per quintal.

Potato farmer Murarilal told India Today that potatoes are being sold at the weekly haat in Agra’s Midhakur town for Rs 4 per kg, while lemon prices have skyrocketed.

Nirauti Lal, a Nagla Laldas resident who sells vegetables in the market, stated that such apathy towards potatoes has not been seen in several years. At the moment, a kilogram of potato costs only Rs 4 while a kilogram of lemon costs Rs 200. The price of green chillies is Rs 100 to 150 per kg and ginger is Rs 800 to 100 per kg.

Vishal Sharma, Vice Chairman of Hindustani Biradari, stated that the time has come for farmers to reduce potato cultivation and focus on growing other vegetables because it is difficult to recover the cost of potato cultivation at the current prices. If the area of potato cultivation is reduced, the demand for potatoes will increase, as will the price. Aside from that, there is a need to focus on the cultivation of advanced potato varieties. Such varieties should be grown that are in high demand in foreign countries, because good prices for potatoes in the Indian market are not available, whereas potatoes exported abroad fetch good prices.