Potato growers hit by lack of proper storage

Gaur, June l6 (RSS): Farmers and traders in rautahat, a district which produces potatoes in abundance, have to take the seed potato to Jitpur and Birgunj for storage for lack of proper storage facilities locally.

Adverse weather conditions last year led to a decline in potato output in the Terai region with a consequent hike in the potato price.

Potatoes from the district find a market particularly in the capital and in Pokhara, and this year also some 5,000 hectares of land has been cultivated with the crop.

The potato yield on irrigated land is l6 to l8 metric tons per hectare. Output on unirrigated land depends on the rain.

In potato pocket areas like Santapur, Dumariya, Paurai, Saruatha and Maghopur in the district, the potato sells for Rs 2 to 4 per kilo during the harvest season.