Key Highlights
- Cuttack farmers still avoiding potato farming despite support
- Cold storage gaps and late paddy harvest cited as main issues
- District target set at 800 acres for this season
- Seed potatoes offered at a lower price with an added refund
Cuttack district may not reach its potato planting target this season. Even though farmers are being offered cheaper seed potatoes and other support, many say they are not ready to grow the crop due to storage gaps and late harvesting of paddy.
Falling Area Over the Years
Potatoes are mainly grown in Salepur, Mahanga, Nischintakoili, Cuttack Sadar, Banki, Athagarh, Kantapada and Niali blocks because the soil suits the crop.
More than a decade ago, in 2012–2013, Cuttack topped the state in potato output with nearly 2,910 hectares under the crop, giving almost 23% of Odisha’s total supply.
But since then, the area has dropped for many reasons, lack of working cold stores, shifting weather and crop loss caused by animals. Last year, the district had aimed for 575 hectares but managed only around 438 hectares.
Fresh Push, Old Worries
This year, the horticulture directorate has set a goal of 800 acres for potato planting in the district. To help farmers take up the crop, the department began giving better seed potatoes at a lower rate. Still, farmers remain unsure. Potato planting usually begins in the last week of November, after paddy is cleared from the fields. One crop cycle takes about 100 to 120 days.
But it is already December and paddy has not been removed in many places because sowing was late. Farmers fear the delay will push potato planting beyond the ideal window.
They also worry about the weather. By mid-February, winter weakens and farmers say that warmer days may affect potato growth, which needs cooler conditions for proper tuber formation.
Cold Storage Failure Adds to Fear
A major concern is storage. Farmers say there is no working cold storage to keep potatoes after harvest. Without proper storage, they would have to sell at low prices. Cold stores at Bahugram in Salepur, 42 Mouza in Cuttack Sadar, Nisthipur in Banki, Lakheswar in Niali and Athagarh, set up long ago are no longer in working condition.
RELATED: How Better Packaging Extends Shelf Life for Potato Products
Officials Explain the Support
Deputy Director of Horticulture for Cuttack, Sandul Rama Rao, said seed potatoes are being given at a reduced price.
“We bought the seeds at ₹42.27 per kg and are giving them to farmers at ₹20 per kg. After they share GPS photos of their planted fields at the block office, they can also get a ₹10 per kg refund,” he said.
With the planting window shrinking and storage concerns still unsolved, farmers say they cannot risk potato farming this year. Unless cold stores are fixed and paddy is cleared on time, the district may fall short of its goal again.
Source: The New Indian Express
Image credit: engin akyurt on Unsplash
Recent Articles
Follow us to receive updates🔔
