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

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 ...