People breathe sigh of relief thanks to subsidised rate chart for onions, potatoes at Sufal Bangla stalls

Kolkata: At a time when the prices of onions and potatoes are skyrocketing in the state, the Bengal government has started selling the vegetables through all of its Sufal Bangla stalls at a subsidised rate, making people breathe a sigh of relief.

Following Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's instruction, the Agriculture Marketing department has come up with the idea of selling onions and potatoes at lesser prices. Mobile vans have also been introduced in various districts which are taking potatoes and onions to various important locations for the buyers.

Onions are now available at Rs 59 per kg at around 136 Sufal Bangla stalls across the state, where the current market price is varying between Rs 100-110 per kg. Meanwhile, potatoes are being sold at Rs 17 per kg at Sufal Bangla stalls, while the market price is over Rs 22 per kg. The vegetables are available at various Sufal Bangla outlets for one hour every day, from 7-8 am. Up to one kg of potatoes will be sold to each person, who will turn up at the stalls within the stipulated time.

Following a steep rise in the price of essential commodities, Banerjee had expressed concern and asked the Agriculture Marketing department to distribute the onions and potatoes at a cheaper rate.

People in the state, mainly from the lower-middle class background, have been facing a very hard time after the prices of essential commodities went up.

The state government's decision has come as a sigh of relief to the people of Bengal. Sufal Bangla stalls are recording huge footfalls as the people are congregating outside them from the morning to get potatoes and onions.

Tapan Dasgupta, minister-in-charge of the Agriculture and Marketing department, said: "The decision to sell potatoes and onions at cheaper rates was taken following the Chief Minister's instruction. Apart from Sufal Bangla stalls, various mobile vans have been made operational in the districts as well, to take the vegetables to the doorsteps of people."

It may be mentioned here that Sufal Bangla stalls were introduced to ensure that common people get fresh vegetables and other essential commodities at the right price.

The stalls are mainly run by different Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), which collect vegetables directly from farmers and sell them in the stalls.

It benefits both farmers and common people. The farmers get the right price for their produce and hence are not required to depend on middlemen, while people get fresh vegetables at the right price.

Initially, the stalls were introduced in South Bengal, but after seeing their success, the state Agriculture Marketing department took up the project in Kurseong, Kalimpong and other parts of North Bengal as well.