West Bengal produces approximately 65 lakh tonnes of potatoes after Uttar Pradesh, which produces about 100 lakh tonnes. Productivity in the state is 26 tonne per hectare. Gujarat has the highest yield at 27 tonnes per hectare.

"The yield per hectare can be increased but what is the purpose. Even after increasing the productivity the poor farmers will not be benefitted as they rarely get a remunerative price," officials told The Financial Express.

Though West Bengal produces about 65 lakh tonne every year, its consumption is restricted toonly 40 lakh tonnes. It includes 30 lakh tonnes for table purposes, another 5.5 lakh tonnes for seeds and almost 5.5 lakh tonnes are wasted every year due to poor weather.

However, the government is trying to sell some potatoes to the neighboring states like Orissa, Bihar and Assam. Orissa is buying almost five lakh tonnes every year, Bihar around one lakh tonnes and Assam 1.5 lakh tonnes. Southern states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are together buying about five lakh tonnes. Still it leaves with an excess of 12.5 lakh tonnes.

In 1996-97, the state registered a record potato production of 84.72 lakh tonnes. Last year it was 59.49 tonnes and this year it would be around 70 lakh tonnes. "Farmers have just started harvesting. May be within a couple of weeks we will able to find the exact production," officials said.

Government officials and farmers are blaming the West Bengal government for not pronouncing a concrete policy for potatoes. "Every year the crop is wasted as the farmers aresuffering from an excess production. If it continues further then the farmers will stop sowing potato, which is supposed to be a cash crop," the officials said.

Food processing industry is yet to be encouraged by the government. Officials said that the government and the entrepreneurs are always at loggerheads over land and potato quality.

"The entrepreneurs are asking for captive plantations, which the government is not willing to give. They also complained that the existing quality is not suitable for food processing. However, when we assured them that their specified quality will be grown by the farmers, they failed to give a counter-assurance of purchase. At the end the farmers are the losers," the official said.

For the last two years, the government is trying to export potatoes to the neighboring countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. "Yet nothing has taken shape but please do not ask me why," the official added. The Bengal farmers are also the verge of losing the markets in Bihar and Orissa, asthey are gradually increasing the potato production. "Uttar Pradesh, despite its huge production survives because it is catering to the needs of the whole of northern India, where we are being outpriced due to the freight cost. Southern India is the only saviour," the official added.

However, the next couple of months are likely to witness rebellious scenes in Bengal villages as the farmers are unlikely to get a remunerative price for the new crop, which is almost due.