Core Tip: While a number of potato growers are facing huge losses, a section of Bengal farmers is set to make money from potato cultivation after a collaborative farming arrangement with multinational food giant PepsiCo.

While a number of potato growers are facing huge losses, a section of Bengal farmers is set to make money from potato cultivation after a collaborative farming arrangement with multinational food giant PepsiCo.

PepsiCo officials led by Jaideep Bhatia, director agro division, on Friday met potato farmers who cultivated special process grade potato with lower water content.

The field potato price on Friday hovered around Rs 2 to Rs 3 per kg. The PepsiCo farmers received Rs 7.50 to Rs 8.40 per kg. Chandi Charan Mondal of Anandapur village said: "The company offered an assured price. 

According to Bhatia, PepsiCo will procure 70,000 tonne of potatoes from farmers at the agreed price set one month before plantation. Bengal produces around 10 lakh tonne of potatoes every year. Unlike some other states, in Bengal, PepsiCo is entering into a pact with an aggregator for the supply of potatoes, whom the company is calling an opinion leader.