India: Despite highest-ever potato production, Punjab farmers earn less than half of last year's price

Published 2023년 3월 16일

Tridge summary

Punjab has achieved its highest potato production ever, with a record 31.56 lakh tons, marking an increase of 1.05 lakh tons from the previous year. This achievement is despite minimal changes in cultivation area. Jalandhar and Ludhiana districts led in production, with better seed quality contributing to increased per hectare yield. Since 2004-05, the cultivation area has grown by 58%, and production by 114.6%, with the per hectare yield rising from 20 tons to 27.68 tons. However, farmers are facing low prices for the crop, with rates dropping significantly from the previous year. Punjab is essential for meeting the national demand for seed potatoes, with the Doaba region being a top growth area. The state also supplies seed potatoes to several other states, storing them in its network of 630 cold storage facilities with a capacity of 23.5 lakh tons.

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Original content

Punjab this season has recorded the highest ever potato production in the state at 31.56 lakh tons, around 1.05 lakh tons more than last year. While there was not much increase in the area of cultivation, the production is seeing a steady increase each year. Among all the districts, Jalandhar has produced nearly 7 lakh tonne potato, which is the highest in the state followed by Ludhiana, which recorded nearly 5 lakh tonne production. Experts said that the availability of better quality seeds is resulting in the increase in the per hectare production. According to the Punjab Horticulture department, there was 30.5 lakh tonne production of potato last year and 29.49 lakh tonne in 2021 while the area under production was around 1.07 lakh hectare. In 2020, 28.7 lakh tonne potato was produced on 1.06 lakh hectare land. Officials added that last year was the first time when potato production touched the 3-million tonne mark in the state. In 2019, 2018 and 2017, Punjab recorded 27.24 ...

Source: Argenpapa