Political Row Heats Up Over Plummeting Potato Prices in Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj Belt

Potato farmers in Uttar Pradesh's key agricultural belt—spanning Kanpur, Kannauj, and Mainpuri—are grappling with immense distress as market prices have plummeted, leaving them unable to recover production costs.

Key Highlights:
- Cold Storage Backlog: Out of over 21.8 million quintals stored across 197 cold storages in Kannauj, nearly 17 million quintals remain stocked as prevailing market prices make withdrawal a loss-making proposition.
- Export and Trade Hurdles: Officials point to reduced demand for chips in Gulf countries and a fourfold hike in customs duty by the Nepal government as major factors hurting exports.
- Political Confrontation: Samajwadi Party chief and Kannauj MP Akhilesh Yadav slammed the government on social media over farmers allegedly getting as low as 1 rupee per kg, while state minister Aseem Arun has written to the agriculture minister urging support prices, freight subsidies, and direct procurement mechanisms.