Despite the low price, 5,758 metric tons of potatoes are exported from Patarasi Rural Municipality alone every year.
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Gor Bahadur Basnet of Guthichaur Rural Municipality-1 here produces 50 quintals of potatoes a year. He collects some of his own and some of his neighbors' potatoes and takes them to the market. But sometimes the road is damaged due to the weather and the traders cannot reach them, and sometimes the price of potatoes is very low. He says that he is producing potatoes as a source of income for his family of eight.
'A lot of potatoes are being produced in remote areas. But there is no market nearby,' he said, 'That is why we are forced to sell the village potatoes at a price of a penny.' He said that farmers in the village are selling potatoes for a maximum of 15 to 20 rupees per kilogram. When they reach Khalanga, potatoes reach up to 30 rupees per kilogram. 'The house produces about 50 quintals of potatoes every year, and this generates an income of at least 150,000 rupees,' he said.
When the road did not reach Karnali, potatoes were being used as animal feed. ‘Now, even if it is 15/20 rupees, it is available in the village,’ he added, ‘We are not getting the price according to our hard work. Rather than getting nothing, it is becoming a source of income, even if it is small.’
Rupa Khadka of Jumla Patarasi-6 comes to Khalanga every day to sell potatoes. Even when she comes to Khalanga carrying potatoes in a sack, she returns and sells them for 30 rupees per kg. She said that she is cultivating potatoes on seven ropanis. Her family, which produces up to 100 quintals of potatoes a year, is also making ends meet by selling potatoes. ‘Potato production is high, but since there is no market nearby, it is not possible to sell it at a high price,’ she said, ‘A collection center is needed so that the potato market and farmers’ potatoes can be found in one place.’ Earlier, potatoes stored in pits used to rot in the pits, but now they are reaching the market even though there is nothing.
According to the data of Patarasi Rural Municipality, 5,758 metric tons of potatoes go out of the district every year. From here, potatoes are sent to cities such as Kalikot, Mugu, Jajarkot, Dailekh, Surkhet, Nepalgunj and others. According to the data of the District Agricultural Development Office, Jumla, last year, potatoes were cultivated on an area of 2,292 hectares. Of which 39,715 metric tons of potatoes were produced. Office chief Ram Bhakta Adhikari informed that Rs 30 million came to Jumla by selling potatoes. Jumli Local, Mahat, Khumal Seto, Khumal Rato, Desire, Janakdev and Kufrijyoti potatoes are produced here.
Jumla has potatoes that grow in two seasons, i.e. 3 months and 6 months. The Agricultural Development Office, Jumla, has stated that awareness programs including agricultural exhibition fairs are being conducted to encourage farmers to increase the marketing of potatoes. Potatoes produced in Jumla are known as organic potatoes because they do not use pesticides. The demand for potatoes produced here is high because they are tasty and nutritious.
Member of the House of Representatives Gyan Bahadur Shahi has met Prime Minister Balendra Shah and demanded the management of a cartoon for potato farmers. He said, ‘Jumla potatoes are among the best potatoes in Nepal. The specialty of potatoes found in the Himalayan districts is different.’ There is a request to promote the district as a 'Potato Super Zone' to transport potatoes to the major markets of Nepal. He has also demanded the establishment of a trading center in Patarasi Rural Municipality of Jumla for potato collection and marketing.
