Hot potato politics: At ground zero of Mamata’s rise, farmers count their losses

What Happened

Bengal's potato farmers face severe losses despite record 140 lakh tonne production this season. Prices have crashed to Rs 80-100 per 50kg sack, far below the Rs 450 needed for survival. Farmers report cultivation costs of Rs 40,000 per bigha yield only Rs 15,000 returns. Inter-state movement restrictions prevent access to traditional markets in Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Assam. Cold storage facilities overflow with unsold produce as the issue becomes central to Bengal's ongoing election campaign.

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