Punjab: Profitable season for potato farmers in Doaba
Punjab: Potato farmers in the Doaba region have had a good season so far. They have sold old stocks lying in stores and got prices ranging from Rs 900 to Rs 1,200 for each 50 kg sack. Farmers said they are getting good prices for early varieties of the crop including Kufri Pukhraj and the growth of other varieties including 302 sown in the fields has also been quite good this time. Potato king of the region Jang Bahadur S Sangha said, “We have been very lucky as the weather has been very favourable. It has been sunny and there has been no frost. For varieties like Kufri Uday, 50 kg of potatoes are getting between Rs 850 to Rs 1,050 which is a good price.” Harjaap S Sangha, a leading potato farmer of the region, said, “Our last potato stocked in the store was finished in October itself. We have got a price of more than Rs 900 for 50 kg of potato for the fresh crop. So far, it has been a fairly good season for us.”
However, farmers are a little worried about the rain and fog ahead. Harjaap said, “There are reports of hailstorm in some parts of the potato belt in Jalandhar today. Hailstorms are not good for potatoes. Long spells of rain can also cause waterlogging and rotting of tubers. We hope the weather clears up soon.” Jaswinder Sangha, another potato farmer, said, “If there is more rain, the chances of blight disease will increase. Fog and rain will stunt the growth of the standing crop. The crop needs sunlight during the day for good yield.” Horticulture Development Officer Paramjit Singh said, “There has been a marginal increase in potato acreage this year. Last year the potato acreage was 1.14 lakh hectares and this year it has increased to 1.17 lakh hectares. Farmers are happy with the harvest so far. Initially they got Rs 1200 for 50 kg and now their crop is being sold from the fields at Rs 900 for 50 kg. They hope that in the rest of the season too they will get Rs 750 for a 50 kg sack, which is a very good price in the peak season of potato harvesting.
