Lok Sabha Question No. 460 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-05
Subject: Plight of Potato Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: SANTOKH SINGH CHAUDHARY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.460

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  5 TH  FEBRUARY, 2019

## PLIGHT OF POTATO FARMERS

460.   SHRI SANTOKH SINGH CHAUDHARY:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the potato farmers, especially those in Punjab, have been hit by another glut and price decline this year;
- (b) if so, the response of the Government in this regard;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to help the farmers and stabilise the prices; and
- (d) whether these measures have led to immediate relief for the farmers, if so, the details thereof, if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी ( SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) & (b): The prices of agricultural produce including potato are determined by supply and demand conditions in the market on a day-to-day basis. As per 1 st Advance Estimates 2018-19,  production  of  potato  is  set  to  marginally  decline  over  the  previous  year.  A Statement showing production and prices of potato in Punjab and all India average monthly wholesale price of potato is given at Annexure.

Government of Punjab has taken the following  interventions like reduction in market fee and rural development fee, reduction in commission of Aarhtiyas, focus on increasing consumption through inclusion in mid day meal and jails etc.  and has taken up issues like opening  of  land  routes  to  wagha  border  for  supply  of  potatoes  to  Pakistan  thus  helping farmers to get remunerative price for their produce.

(c) & (d): Government is implementing Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for procurement of agricultural and horticultural commodities which are perishable in nature and are not covered under the Price Support Scheme (PSS). The objective of intervention is to protect  the  growers  of  these  commodities  from  making  distress  sale  in  the  event  of  a bumper crop during  the  peak  arrival  period  when  the  prices  tend  to  fall  below  economic levels  and  cost  of  production.  The  scheme  is  implemented  at  the  request  of  a  State/UT government  which  is  ready  to  bear  50  percent  of  the  loss  (25  percent  in  case  of  NorthEastern States), if any, incurred on its implementation.  The extent of total amount of loss to be shared on 50:50 basis between the Central and  State Governments.

## Annexure

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) & (b)  of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 460 due for answer on 05.02.2019

## Monthly average wholesale price and  Production of Potato

## Average wholesale prices (Rs. Per Quintal)

|                   | 2018   | 2018   | 2018   | 2018   | 2018   | 2018   | 2018   | 2018   | 2018   | 2018   | 2018   | 2018   | 2019   |
|-------------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
|                   | JAN    | FEB    | MAR    | APR    | MAY    | JUN    | JUL    | AUG    | SEP    | OCT    | NOV    | DEC    | JAN    |
| Punjab            | 318    | 404    | 490    | 631    | 693    | 758    | 831    | 800    | 817    | 850    | 789    | 737    | 460    |
| All India Average | 833    | 818    | 1026   | 1314   | 1455   | 1519   | 1604   | 1502   | 1578   | 2032   | 1387   | 1072   | 925    |

| Production (000 tonnes)   | Production (000 tonnes)   | Production (000 tonnes)   | Production (000 tonnes)   | Production (000 tonnes)   | Production (000 tonnes)   |
|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|
|                           | 2016-17                   | 2017-18                   | 2017-18                   | 2018-19 (1st AE)          | 2018-19 (1st AE)          |
| Punjab                    | 2423.00                   | 2571.04                   | (6.11)                    | 2716.33                   | (5.65)                    |
| All India                 | 48604.57                  | 51310.01                  | (5.57)                    | 52588.98                  | (2.49)                    |

The figures shown in the bracts are the percentage change over previous year.

********