Kolkata, 26 February (H.S.) : In a significant relief for potato farmers in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced an increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) to ₹900 per quintal. The announcement came during a press conference on Tuesday, where she also criticized the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) for releasing water without prior notification to the state, exacerbating damage to agricultural fields.

The recent unannounced water release by DVC, coupled with untimely rainfall, has led to extensive damage to farmland in Howrah and surrounding regions. A large portion of crops, especially potatoes, has been destroyed due to waterlogging. Expressing her dissatisfaction, CM Banerjee accused DVC of repeatedly releasing water without consulting the state government, leading to severe agricultural losses.

In response to the crisis, the state government has decided to purchase damaged potatoes from farmers to mitigate their financial burden. Additionally, the government has set up a ₹321 crore insurance fund for affected farmers.

The unplanned release of water from DVC had left many farmers in distress, with acres of farmland submerged. Desperate to save their crops, farmers had started harvesting potatoes prematurely. The Chief Minister’s assurance of government support has now provided some relief.

Hindusthan Samachar / S P Singh