The Agro Market Intelligence and Business Promotion Centre (AMIBPC) of the Department of Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business has indicated that the price of good quality potato would rule between Rs.25 to 27 a kg between November and December.
In a price advisory for root vegetables such as potato, beetroot, and carrot (grown in both hills and plains) sown in September to October in major growing districts, the back office of the AMIBPC in the Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies (CARDS), Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, provides the price forecast to help farmers take proper pre-sowing decision.
In Tamil Nadu, potato is grown in the hilly regions of Nilgiris, Dindigul, Krishnagiri, and Erode districts. Nilgiris potato is sent to Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchi, Salem, and Vellore and also to other States. Potato was cultivated in 5,350 acres in Tamil Nadu in 2013 with the production being 1, 15,630 tonnes. The price advisory has been issued based on the analysis of price at Nilgiris Cooperative Marketing Society and survey among traders.
Beetroot is expected to fetch a price of Rs.20-25 a kg during November and December, the advisory said. Currently a bag of beetroot containing 75 kg is auctioned in the price range of Rs.1, 800-2,600 at the vegetables commission mandi at Mettupalayam. Tiruppur, Theni, the Nilgiris, Dindigul, Coimbatore, Krishnagiri and Erode, which are the major beetroot growing districts in the State.
Carrot, which is currently sold at Rs.2, 250-Rs.3,000 a bag of 75 kg at the Mettupalayam vegetable mandi, is expected to command a price of Rs.25 to Rs.30 a kg during November and December, the harvest period. The Nilgiris, Dindigul, and Krishnagiri are major carrot growing districts in the State.
