west bengal A record production of about 140-150 lakh tonnes of potatoes is expected in 2025-26, which is the highest in the last five years.
The total production of spuds in Bengal, the country’s second largest producer, was about 115 lakh tonnes last year, which was also a bumper production.
Favorable weather conditions are expected to increase production by more than 20 percent annually.
“Potato harvesting has started. The production this year is expected to be around 140-150 lakh tonnes. Favorable weather conditions in the potato growing areas of the state are expected to result in a record jump in production. Also, there has been a marginal increase in the area under cultivation,” said Patit Paban De, a senior member of the West Bengal Cold Storage Association. business Line.
For the 2024-25 season, the area under potato cultivation was about 5.12 lakh hectares. Hooghly, Bardhaman and Paschim Medinipur in South Bengal are the three largest potato producing districts of the state. The harvesting season will continue till March.
The West Bengal government has directed cold storage owners to open their cold storages from March 1, when the loading of potatoes will begin.
There are currently 580 cold storages in the state, and most of them are used for storing potatoes. At present the total storage facility of tubers is about 70-80 lakh tonnes.
“Given that production is expected to increase to around 140-150 lakh tonnes, we may face a shortage of available cold storage space this year,” Dey said.
According to the West Bengal Cold Storage Association, the average monthly consumption of potatoes in West Bengal is about 6 lakh tonnes, there is likely to be a surplus of about 68 lakh tonnes of potatoes this year. Therefore, the state government needs to facilitate inter-state trade on a large scale.
The government has already announced that every cold storage across the state will have to reserve 30 per cent of its space for marginalized farmers so that they are not forced to sell in distress.
Published on February 17, 2026
