1 hr ago
Alipurduar Petrol Pump Offers Potatoes to Farmers
A petrol pump near Falakata has started giving customers free potatoes before Durga Puja.
People who buy fuel worth at least ₹2,000 receive 2kg of potatoes.
Bigger fuel purchases can earn customers more potatoes.
The pump gives away about 200 packets each day.
It buys the potatoes directly from local farmers.
Farmers are struggling because they have grown a lot of potatoes but cannot sell them easily.
Demand from Assam and other northeastern states has fallen.
The offer helps some farmers while also bringing more customers to the petrol pump.
A cold-storage association says the potato trade is facing a serious crisis.
A petrol pump near Falakata is giving away potatoes with fuel purchases before Durga Puja.
Customers buying fuel worth ₹2,000 receive 2kg of potatoes, while larger purchases qualify for more.
The pump distributes about 200 potato packets daily and has seen increased fuel sales.
The potatoes are bought directly from local farmers at ₹7 per kilogram.
High production and weaker demand from Assam and the Northeast have left potatoes in north Bengal cold storages.
- Who
- A petrol pump owned by Doly De, local potato farmers, motorists, and the West Bengal Cold Storage Association.
- What
- The pump is offering free potatoes with qualifying petrol or diesel purchases to support farmers and increase sales.
- Where
- At a petrol pump near Falakata in Alipurduar district, on the state highway linking Falakata and Dhupguri.
- When
- The offer began last Thursday and is being continued as long as the pump can afford it, ahead of Durga Puja.
- Why
- Potato farmers are facing low returns because production was high and demand from Assam and the Northeast declined.
Key facts
- Fuel purchase threshold
- ₹2,000 or more earns 2kg of potatoes.
- Larger purchase
- Fuel purchases of ₹4,000 or more earn two 2kg packets.
- Daily repeat offer
- Three purchases of at least ₹2,000 each in one day earn 10kg.
- Daily distribution
- About 200 potato packets are distributed each day.
- Farmer buying price
- The pump buys potatoes directly from farmers at ₹7 per kilogram.
- Main market problem
- Large quantities of potatoes have remained in north Bengal cold storages for several months.
- Business impact
- The initiative has increased fuel sales while creating an additional outlet for farmers.
Quotes
Pradeep Ghosh
Secretary of the northern region of the West Bengal Cold Storage Association
“We are unable to bring the potato bags out of the cold storage because there is no market for the produce either in Bengal or outside the state. We are waiting for the state government to take some initiative.”
telegraphindia.com
“Many of our customers are farmers, and they often speak about their losses and the crisis they are facing. We thought this offer could help them.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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