A trade body here has launched a van that will move across the town and sell potatoes at a cheaper rate.

The initiative has been taken at a time retail prices of potatoes are on the rise across the state, with Raiganj not being an exception.

“Because of Covid-19 pandemic, many people have lost their jobs, while several others’ earnings have come down. In such a situation, the price of a basic food item like potato has increased to Rs 35 and even to Rs 40 per kilo at some places. To ensure that people can buy potatoes at lesser rates, we introduced the mobile van today,” said Atanu Bandhu Lahiri, a secretary of the Raiganj Merchants’ Association.

According to him, potatoes would be sold from the van at Rs 25 per kilo.

“Initially, a person can buy maximum 2kg potato from the van at a time. In due course, we are planning to

increase the number of such vans so that the entire town and the suburbs can be covered,” Lahiri said

The association, sources said, is procuring the potato from wholesalers and selling it at a price with a basic margin that can cover the cost. The association is composed of traders who are not into the sale of vegetables.

In north Bengal, potato prices went northwards in the past two-three weeks. The rise has prompted officials of the North Dinajpur district administration to visit prominent markets to check whether wholesalers or retailers are hoarding potatoes to create an artificial demand.

“We are keeping a close watch over the situation. Along with potatoes, prices of onions are also on the rise. Our officers are regularly collecting information from markets and in case there is a sharp rise in the price, we will act immediately to prevent illegal hoarding of potatoes,” said an official in the district administration.

A wholesaler in Raiganj attributed the price rise to less supply. “Prices will come down in a couple of months as the harvesting of potatoes will start from November,” he said.