Potato production in Una district set to fall on lower yield; prices firm up

Una (HP), Nov 11: Potato production in the Una district of Himachal Pradesh is likely to fall this year due to a 30 per cent drop in crop yield hit by severe heat in summer and a delay in the onset of winter, say farmers.

Potato is the third main crop in the district after wheat and maize and is considered a big support for the economic improvement of farmers.

The area under potato cultivation in Una has remained steady at around 1,200 hectare. However, about 30 per cent decline in yield would affect production this year, according to farmers.

Around 20,000-25,000 tonne of potatoes are produced in the district annually.

The potato crop is fetching good prices of Rs 3,000-3,600 per quintal but the crop yield in the first week of September was very low due to high temperature, said farmers Ravindra Saini, Ajay Kumar, Desraj and Sukhwinder.

Crop production has dropped to one to two quintals per kanal in many fields against usual seven to eight quintals of output per kanal, farmers said.

The crop is affected by fluctuations of the weather. This time, summer lasted long and untimely rains later hit the crop, said Agriculture Deputy Director Kulbhushan Dhiman referring to the potato yield in the district. Potato ploughing has started in the district, he added.

In areas where potatoes are not grown, farmers sow wheat in the beginning of November while sowing is done late in potato growing areas but due to lack of rain in the district for the last one and half months, the farmers are facing difficulty in sowing wheat.

“In rainfed areas, sowing is not possible due to lack of sufficient moisture in the soil. We have bought seeds and fertilizers for sowing wheat and are waiting for rains to sow the crop,” said farmer Shyam Lal.

Wheat is sown on more than 35,000 hectare of land in the district. Out of this, 28,000 hectare does not have irrigation facilities. Rain is required from time to time in non-irrigated areas. (PTI)

Hot this week

Pay hike of Assam ministers, MLAs likely as 3-member panel submits report

Full report likely by Oct 30 Guwahati Sept 25: There...

Meghalaya Biological Park Inaugurated After 25 Years: A New Chapter in Conservation and Education

Shillong, Nov 28: Though it took nearly 25 years...

ANSAM rejects Kuki’s separate administration demand, says bifurcation not acceptable

Guwahati, Sept 8: Rejecting the separate administration demand of...

Meghalaya man missing in Bangkok

Shillong, Jan 10: A 57-year-old Meghalaya resident, Mr. Treactchell...

Meghalaya’s historic fiber paves the way for eco-friendly products and sustainable livelihoods

By Roopak Goswami Shillong, Oct 25: From making earbuds to...

Mann ki Baat earns Rs 34.13 crore since inception: Govt

New Delhi, Aug 8 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi's...

CBSE chief Rahul Singh gets two year extension

New Delhi, Aug 8 : Senior bureaucrat Rahul Singh...

Not possible for govt to address all issues: Arunachal Minister

Itanagar, Aug 8 : Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister Mama...

BJP leaders in Bihar are ‘more corrupt’ than Lalu: Prashant Kishor

Patna, Aug 8 : Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant...

Wish India flourishes without language terror: Mamata

Kolkata, Aug 8 : Amid protests over alleged harassment...

Assam govt recognises Wildlife Genetics Laboratory for wildlife crime investigations

Guwahati, Aug 8 : The Assam government has recognised...

Scindia urges NE states to update logistics policies

Guwahati, Aug 8 : Union Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories