Ban on exports, local wholesalers not buying; Farmers stage protest by throwing produce on road

Potato farmers in Mathabhanga took to the streets in protest on Wednesday, blocking the road at Satish Hat area on the Cooch Behar Falakatta National Highway. The protest was triggered by the farmers' inability to secure fair prices for their potatoes, despite a government mandate.

Farmers expressed frustration over the dual challenge of a state ban on potato exports to other states and local wholesalers' refusal to buy their produce. This predicament has left farmers unable to sell their potatoes at the government-set prices, severely impacting their livelihood.

Protesters pointed out that without the income from selling potatoes, they are unable to purchase essential agricultural supplies, including chemical fertilizers for Aman paddy cultivation and other farming materials.

The road blockade, which lasted for several hours, caused significant disruption, with long lines of goods and passenger vehicles halted on both sides of the national highway. The blockade was eventually lifted after intervention by the police from the Ghoksadanga police station, restoring traffic flow to normal. However, the farmers have warned of larger protests if their grievances are not addressed.