West Bengal May Hit 150 Lakh Tonne Potato Mark

Key Highlights

Output may reach 140–150 lakh tonnes in 2025-26
Over 20% rise expected due to good weather
Cold storages to open from March 1
Storage shortage likely as surplus grows

West Bengal is set to record its highest potato output in five years. Production for 2025-2026 is expected to reach 140–150 lakh tonnes, helped by good weather and a slight rise in cultivation area. The state government has asked cold storage units to open from March 1 to begin loading the new crop.

Harvest Gains Pace

Potato harvesting has already started across the state. Last year, total production stood at around 115 lakh tonnes, which was also considered a strong season. This year, output may rise by more than 20 percent compared to last year.

According to members of the West Bengal Cold Storage Association, favourable weather in key growing districts has supported the crop. The total area under potato farming for 2024-25 was about 5.12 lakh hectares.

Follow our WhatsApp Channel

Major potato-growing districts include Hooghly, Bardhaman and Paschim Medinipur in South Bengal. Harvesting is expected to continue until March.

Storage Pressure Ahead

West Bengal currently has about 580 cold storages. Most of them are used mainly for potatoes. Together, they can store around 70–80 lakh tonnes.

With production expected to reach up to 150 lakh tonnes, storage space may fall short. Industry members have warned that available capacity might not be enough if output reaches the upper range of estimates.

The state’s average monthly potato consumption is about 6 lakh tonnes. Based on this, nearly 68 lakh tonnes may remain as excess supply this year. This means the government may need to support large-scale inter-state trade to manage the surplus.

Also read: Best Climate and Soil Conditions for Potato Farming

Government Steps

The state government has directed cold storage owners to start operations from March 1 so that farmers can begin storing their produce without delay.

It has also announced that 30 percent of storage space must be kept aside for marginalised farmers. The aim is to prevent distress sales when market prices fall during peak harvest.

With output likely to touch a five-year high, West Bengal faces both opportunity and pressure. Good harvests can help farmers, but managing storage and surplus will be key in the coming months.