Tikaram Oli of Bafukhola, Bagchaur Municipality-12, Salyan, has been cultivating potatoes commercially for two decades. Last year, he earned more than 650,000 rupees by selling about 150 quintals of potatoes grown in 15 ropanis for 40 to 45 rupees per kilogram.

This year, since the same potatoes did not fetch more than 25 rupees per kilogram, he was forced to store the potatoes he dug at home instead of selling them. 'Last year, most of the potatoes had been sold by this time,' he said. 'This year, since the cost of production was not even there, I have kept them in the room.'

Chandra Bahadur Oli, a farmer from Bafukhola, has also been cultivating potatoes on more than 15 ropanis of land. He has been earning an annual income of 600,000 to 700,000 rupees from selling potatoes. Last year, he had sold all the potatoes before the start of Shrawan. But this year, he has not yet dug most of the potatoes because he has not received a price.

Bafukhola in Bagchaur Municipality-11 and 12 is considered a pocket area for potato production. Around 1,100 farmers here are cultivating potatoes on an area of ​​400 hectares and earning an annual income of more than Rs 120 million. The income from potato farming has improved the living standards of many farmers, while some have even been able to buy houses. But this year, the farmers' enthusiasm has turned to disappointment due to not getting a good price in the market.

According to the farmers, local produce has lost both market and value after cheap potatoes from India entered the Nepali market in large quantities. They complain that potatoes that were sold at Rs 40 to 45 per kg from home last year have not been sold above Rs 25 per kg this year.

Traders who come to buy potatoes from Pokhara, Butwal, Birgunj and Dang every year have shown less interest in buying local potatoes this year as Indian potatoes are available at a cheaper price. This has directly affected the farmers.

According to local farmer Keshav Oli, 35 to 40 percent of the potatoes produced had been exported out of the district by the first week of Shrawan last year. This year, not even 10 percent has been exported due to not getting a good price.

‘I have planted potatoes in 20 ropanis. I used to earn Rs 5-6 lakh a year,’ he said, ‘Last year, I had sold more than half of the potatoes at this time. Now, no traders have come. There is no other option but to store the dug potatoes.’

Ratiram Oli, 47, of Bafukhola, left foreign employment and started commercial potato farming a decade ago. ‘Even when I worked all year round in India, it was difficult to support my family. After farming potatoes, my household expenses started running smoothly, and I also had some savings,’ he said, ‘Last year, the money I earned from selling potatoes covered all my expenses. I don’t know what will happen this year.’

Farmers are also worried about potatoes rotting due to the lack of adequate storage facilities. ‘Even if the price is low, we are forced to sell some potatoes for fear of rotting,’ he said.