Demand for potatoes fall as hotels shut down, prices crash

CHIKKABALLAPUR: The Iran-Israel conflict has disrupted LPG supplies, forcing many hotels to shut, and demand for vegetables, including potatoes, has dipped. Due to this, the potato glut in Chikkaballapur has left farmers in a fix, with prices plummeting to Rs 300-400 per quintal.

Despite being a bumper crop season, potato farmers are struggling to find buyers, even in other states and countries. Farmers are now rushing to store their produce in cold storage facilities, leading to chaos near these facilities.

Hundreds of tractor-loads of potatoes are waiting to be stocked, with labour shortages adding to the woes. Vehicles carrying potato bags have been stuck for 4-5 days, highlighting the distress faced by farmers.