Sher Singh says the cost of taking potatoes out of cold storage is Rs 170 per sack. Sorting the potatoes and transporting them to the mandi adds another Rs 30, taking the expense to Rs 200 per sack before the produce is even sold. With the market price hovering around Rs 400 per sack, recovering the cost of cultivation has become difficult.
The difficulties faced by Sher Singh's family are now influencing cultivation decisions among potato farmers across the district. Frustrated by poor returns, farmers have reduced the area under potato cultivation and are also turning away from government-supplied seeds.
Despite the availability of government potato seeds in the district, only seven farmers have registered online bookings so far. A total of 312 quintals of seed has been allocated for farmers, but demand remains extremely low.
Young farmer Vikas Kumar, who also belongs to Salempur Bangar village, says his family used to cultivate potatoes on 50 bighas every year. This time, however, they are preparing to grow potatoes on only 15 bighas. With farmers struggling to recover even their cultivation costs, he questions the benefit of expanding production.
Vikas says farmers still have seeds from the previous year, while those who need additional supplies are purchasing them from other farmers. As a result, there is little interest in buying expensive government-supplied seeds.
Aman Saini, a farmer from Kundarki, also considers the price of government seeds too high. Mashkoor Ahmad of Nankar village says the risks associated with potato cultivation have increased. Farmers did not receive good prices last year either, he says, leaving them reluctant to expand cultivation this season.
The decline in market prices has weakened farmers' confidence, and even a subsidy of Rs 1,000 on government seeds has failed to attract them. The situation has left horticulture department officials working to increase seed bookings while farmers focus on reducing expenses and avoiding further losses.
Deputy Director of Horticulture Vineet Kumar says potato seeds are available through several channels and that farmers are booking seeds to obtain certified supplies. He adds that a subsidy of Rs 1,000 per quintal is also being provided.
Despite the subsidy and the allocation of 312 quintals of government seed, the limited bookings reflect the financial pressure facing potato growers. With storage, sorting and transportation costs consuming a substantial share of their potential earnings, farmers are reassessing how much land they can afford to devote to the crop.
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