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Bengal farmers in potato protest | Bengal farmers in potato protest |
(3 days later) | |
Angry farmers in the Indian state of West Bengal have been dumping their potato crop on roads in protest against poor prices. | Angry farmers in the Indian state of West Bengal have been dumping their potato crop on roads in protest against poor prices. |
Farmers say they are selling at a loss because a bumper crop and lack of storage facilities has led to a dramatic fall in prices. | Farmers say they are selling at a loss because a bumper crop and lack of storage facilities has led to a dramatic fall in prices. |
The West Bengal government is asking neighbouring Indian states to purchase potatoes from them. | The West Bengal government is asking neighbouring Indian states to purchase potatoes from them. |
The move comes as prices for other foods in Asia have soared. | The move comes as prices for other foods in Asia have soared. |
'Pocketed by middlemen' | 'Pocketed by middlemen' |
At a time when food prices are rising across Asia, nobody expects farmers to complain. | At a time when food prices are rising across Asia, nobody expects farmers to complain. |
But that's precisely what tens of thousands of farmers who grow potatoes in the Indian state of West Bengal are doing now. | |
They say a bumper potato crop has led to a huge surplus of more than 15,000 metric tonnes and there's not enough cold storage facilities in the state to preserve it for off-season sale when prices are better. | |
Other food prices have risen sharply this year | Other food prices have risen sharply this year |
The price of potatoes has fallen across West Bengal this month by almost half - to around four to five rupees (12 US cents) a kilogram. | The price of potatoes has fallen across West Bengal this month by almost half - to around four to five rupees (12 US cents) a kilogram. |
The farmers say they get only half that much - the rest is pocketed by middlemen who the government has so far failed to control. | The farmers say they get only half that much - the rest is pocketed by middlemen who the government has so far failed to control. |
With such low income, the farmers cannot even hope to recover their costs. | With such low income, the farmers cannot even hope to recover their costs. |
The left-coalition government of West Bengal, that prides itself as India's second largest potato-producing state, is desperately trying to control rural unrest caused by potato farmers who have blocked highways and encircled government offices, dumping their crop all over the place. | The left-coalition government of West Bengal, that prides itself as India's second largest potato-producing state, is desperately trying to control rural unrest caused by potato farmers who have blocked highways and encircled government offices, dumping their crop all over the place. |
Bengal's chief of agricultural marketing, Naren Chattopadhyay, told the BBC that his government has spent nearly 700 million rupees (nearly $18m) in transport subsidies to help farmers sell potatoes to other Indian states where prices are better. | Bengal's chief of agricultural marketing, Naren Chattopadhyay, told the BBC that his government has spent nearly 700 million rupees (nearly $18m) in transport subsidies to help farmers sell potatoes to other Indian states where prices are better. |
Now the Bengal government has approached many neighbouring states directly, and even Bangladesh, to buy potatoes from them. But so far it is not having much success. | Now the Bengal government has approached many neighbouring states directly, and even Bangladesh, to buy potatoes from them. But so far it is not having much success. |
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