Yield of potatoes hit due to continuous rains, say farmers

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 20

For the past three years, the condition of potato growers was so poor that they were left with no other option but to throw their produce on roads because they were not getting price for their crop. But this year, due to bad weather and continuous rains, as per farmers, the production is less and the yield is affected. Some farmers have said the weather had played a spoilsport as the production is less in certain areas.

The problem of not getting proper remuneration was so severe for the past three years that several reports of farmers destroying their own crops near Amritsar came up last year and farmers in the district were troubled too. The farmers were continuously suffering and forced to bury their lush green crop, nourished by taking loans in the hope of earning some profit. In the absence of a remunerative price (as potato was being sold not over Rs 250 per quintal as per the farmers), they said they were left with no option but to destroy the crop. But now, the farmers said they were getting Rs 1,100-1,200 per quintal. Already, the prices of onion have troubled residents and now it seems that the potato prices will affect the customers too.

Kispal Singh from Moosapur village, a potato grower, said because of incessant rain in the past, the yield was affected. “The growth is also getting affected and thus, rate will increase. A farmer is getting Rs 1,100-1,200 per quintal for their produce. We sell potatoes at Rs 10-12 per kg and customers are getting potato at the rate of Rs 20-25 per kg,” he added.

He said farmers from the Bhogpur area had got less yield than other farmers. Joga Singh from Chak Chella village said the farmers were getting remunerative price better than previous years.

Tarsem Singh from another village said he had sown potato on 15 acres, but his crop on 5 acres was not fully grown due to downpour in the past.