UP govt to buy one lakh metric tonne of potatoes at Rs 487 per quintal

PTI

In an effort to end the miseries of potato growers in Uttar Pradesh, the state government today decided to purchase one lakh metric tonnes of potato from farmers at Rs 487 per quintal.

"Government aims at giving adequate price to potato growers, if we cannot give them profit, we want to give them price of their produce," Cabinet minister Shrikant Sharma told reporters after a meeting of the state cabinet.

There have been reports that the potato farmers in the state were unable to get a proper price for their produce because of the presence of intermediaries.

Services of four agencies including a central and state agency will be availed of for purchase of potato, he said.

Sharma also said that for cane growers, the Yogi Adityanth Cabinet has decided to ensure payment of their current dues within 14 days and old dues within 120 days.

"Legal action will also be taken against sugar mills if them fail to make payments," Sharma said.

The UP minister also claimed that outstanding dues of the cane farmers for the sowing seasons 2014-15 and 2015-16 have been already been paid.

Reacting to the claims of Sharma, president of Rashtriya Kisan Manch Shekhar Dixit said the Yogi Adityanath government must tell the people of UP as to what has it done for farmers in the last 20-25 days.

"The government must make it clear as to how it will eradicate the intermediaries from the potato purchase chain," Dixit said.