The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) has called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to address the plummeting farmgate prices of potatoes. The AIKS claims that this situation has led to severe financial difficulties for millions of potato growers across the country. The farmers’ body has threatened to initiate a nationwide indefinite protest if their concerns are not addressed promptly.
The distress faced by potato farmers in West Bengal has intensified, leading to a political clash ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in the state. This issue has sparked a heated exchange between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party in Bengal, while other parties like the Left and the Congress have maintained a relatively subdued stance.
According to the AIKS, farm-gate prices have dropped significantly in some states, reaching as low as Rs 3 per kg, while the cost of production stands between Rs 15-18 per kg. This drastic disparity has put potato farmers in ten states at risk of severe losses. The AIKS, affiliated with the Communist Party of India, has emphasized the urgent need for government intervention to alleviate the crisis faced by these farmers.
The AIKS has put forth a series of demands, including the establishment of a statutory Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 27 per kg for potatoes. Additionally, they have called for full compensation for farmers’ losses, a complete waiver of agricultural loans, and a 70% subsidy on cold storage rentals for small-scale farmers. The farmers’ union has also urged for direct procurement through cooperatives to eliminate intermediaries and ensure fair prices for growers.
