Potato prices may come down in the next few days on increased inflows of new potato in Uttar Pradesh.
Arrivals are increasing day-by-day and likely to increase from second week of February and extend till March in Northern states.
There are reports of crop damage in growing areas due to bad weather condition.
According to sources, about 10-15% of crop has been damaged in growing areas due to prevailing bad weather conditions, however final estimates of crop damage is yet to come. Rabi sowing of potato has increased by 15-20% in major growing states.
National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation (NHRDF) estimated potato output at 30 million tonne in this year increased by 11% from 27 million tonne in last year.
Potato output in West Bengal is estimated at 70 lakh tonne in this season.
?The concerns of crop loss led to sharp rise in prices in the past few weeks, where potato prices gained by Rs.150 per quintal at futures exchanges during January month,? a local broker said.
Cold waves and frost conditions in northern states in the last few weeks (during January) reported to have damaged the standing crop, sources said.