Farmers Face Ruin for Oddly Shaped spuds

Farmers in Arambagh, West Bengal, are facing a bizarre and devastating crisis. Instead of the usual, smoothly rounded potatoes, their fields have yielded a crop of strangely shaped tubers, resembling everything from ginger roots to clay figurines. This unexpected harvest has left them with mountains of unsaleable produce and mounting financial losses.

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The affected farmers, primarily in the Malaypur I and II gram panchayat areas, report that the problem spans at least 150 bighas (a local unit of land measurement) of potato cultivation. Asit Sarkar, a 71-year-old farmer with 45 years of experience, summed up the situation: "I've grown potatoes on 12 bighas, and the entire harvest is this weird variety I've never seen before. No buyer wants them because they look like clay dolls or large pieces of ginger." Sarkar's potential loss is estimated at around ₹400,000.

Another farmer, Mintu Das expressed his fear even to consume.

Many of the farmers, including Sarkar, Das, and Sheikh Mukul, trace the problem back to the seeds they purchased. They claim they bought what they believed to be high-yielding Jyoti variety potato seeds from a local trader, Aditya Dutta, who reportedly sourced them from Punjab. The farmers have demanded that he should compensate.

Breaking down the numbers:

• Area Affected: At least 150 bighas initially identified, with ongoing surveys likely to increase this figure. Local sources suggest around 180 farmers are affected.
• Cost of Cultivation: Approximately ₹35,000 per bigha.
• Typical Yield: 45-50 quintals (1 quintal = 100 kg) per bigha.
• Potential Output (Based on 150 bighas): Assuming an average yield of 47.5 quintals/bigha, the affected area could have produced around 7,125 quintals (712.5 metric tonnes) of potatoes.
• Total Loss estimation: With at least 150 bighas yeild and loss of ₹35,000 per bigha, amounting to ₹52,50,000
• Unsold Inventory: Due to the unusual shape, virtually the entire crop is currently unsold and stockpiled in the fields. The wholesale price is only ₹900 per quintal, as farmers are already facing issue, this has added to the problems.

What's Next?

The Hooghly agriculture department is investigating, with samples sent to the Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya to determine the cause of the unusual shapes – whether it's solely a seed issue or potential contamination. While officials acknowledge the problem and it is not department's fault (as the seeds were privately sourced), they are attempting to mediate between the farmers and the seed supplier, seeking compensation at least for the production costs.

One potential solution being explored is selling the potatoes to companies that produce processed potato products or potato starch, provided there are no food safety concerns. A government team is scheduled to visit the affected area on Monday to assess the total losses.