Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The Odisha government is investigating ways to meet consumer demand by obtaining potatoes from Punjab in response to claims that potatoes supplied from Uttar Pradesh were of inferior quality. Minister of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Krushna Chandra Patra defended the quality of UP potatoes, but he also said that other sources can be taken into consideration in certain circumstances.
Regarding the current scarcity of potatoes, Minister of Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Krushna Chandra Patra said that the government is ready to import potatoes from Punjab if needed. He underlined that his department puts the welfare of its customers first and will take everything to guarantee a consistent supply of potatoes, even obtaining them from Punjab if necessary. The Minister’s remarks came after customers expressed dissatisfaction at obtaining subpar potatoes from Uttar Pradesh. Concerns regarding the quality of the potatoes were raised when it was claimed that they were decomposing in two to three days after being given from UP.
Minister Patra denied the allegations, claiming that Uttar Pradesh produces better potatoes than Kolkata exports. He insisted that UP potatoes are of high quality and refuted claims that they are deteriorating quickly. He also said that customers will gradually become used to UP potatoes’ superior quality.
Patra said, “UP potatoes are better than potatoes being exported from Kolkata. UP potatoes are of good quality. This is not true that UP potatoes are getting rotten easily. Consumers will gradually be acquainted with UP potatoes. Instead of being blackmailed by West Bengal, we preferred to maintain our dignity for which we moved to Uttar Pradesh to meet the potato demand of consumers. If the situation worsens, we may export potatoes from Punjab.”
