Potato Prices Collapse in Agra as Cold Storages Overflow, Farmers Face Deep Crisis

Farmers in Agra (Uttar Pradesh, India) are facing a severe potato price crash, with cold storages packed and distress written across their faces. Despite assurances from the Horticulture Minister, prices have remained disappointingly low from harvest time until now, with no signs of recovery. This year, potatoes were planted on approximately 85,000 hectares, and while yields were decent, demand is virtually absent. As a result, only 5% of stored potatoes have been dispatched so far — compared to 15% by this time last year. Cold storage owners have also pulled back from helping farmers, as they doubt growers will be able to cover rent and handling fees.

Farmers report that in previous years, traders would arrive at the field edges during harvest, offering between 500 and 800 rupees per 50‑kg bag. This year, no one has come to inquire. Growers like Komal Singh from Achnera and Sanjeev Jurail from Khandoli describe this season as one of potato’s devaluation, warning that many farmers could sink into debt. With prices in free fall, farmers are not even reaching cold storages to sell. As another grower, Than Singh from Barara, put it: “If there’s no price, where do we sell?”