India: Why potato farmers in Agra are demanding a vodka distillery

Published 2022년 2월 8일

Tridge summary

Agra, one of North India's leading potato producers, is facing challenges that are critical for its agricultural community. The article highlights the struggles of potato farmers, who are grappling with high input costs and significant challenges such as the lack of quality seeds, increased storage costs, and the impact of climate change on crop cycles. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these issues by reducing demand due to the suspension of mid-day meal schemes and increasing the cost of essential storage sacks. Furthermore, the article discusses the potential solution of establishing vodka distilleries, which could provide employment and utilize damaged produce, as proposed by Akhilesh Yadav during his election campaign. The high storage fees charged and the proposed solution of subsidized electricity rates for cold storage owners are also discussed, showcasing the complex challenges and potential solutions facing Agra's agricultural sector.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Listen to this article: Agra, UP: There are several issues plaguing Agra's potato cultivators – and farmers say that setting up a vodka distillery can solve many of them. A vodka manufacturing plant will not only generate employment in the rural belts of Agra but also ensure that damaged potato produce gets utilized, they say. Some vodkas are made by distilling fermented potatoes. A large portion of residents in six out of the nine assembly constituencies in the district are directly engaged in farming. These include Agra rural, Fatehpur Sikri, Kheragarh, Bah, Fatehabad and Etmadpur. Because of the sandy soil, only a few crops can be grown here, such as potatoes, cabbage and melons. With roughly 14 lakh tonnes of annual potato production, Agra is the largest producer of the vegetable in all of North India. The welfare of potato farmers has emerged as an election issue in Agra's rural belt. Akhilesh Yadav's promise to set up a vodka plant during his recent campaign in the district ...

Source: TheWire