Less quantity of potato seed coupled with higher seed price this year is likely to impact the potato production and farmers’ income in the country during rabi season, according to Samarendu Mohanty, Asia Regional Director of the International Potato Center, Peru. R. Ravikanth Reddy reports for the Hindu.
Dr. Mohanty says compared to previous years potato seed storage is 30% less now while the seed price has more than doubled to ? 30 to ? 35 per kg compared to ? 12 to ? 14 in the last season.
Expecting a further hike, seed producers are waiting to fix a higher price as the planting time approaches, he said. The reasons for lower storage of seed, he feels, is that farmers sold potatoes right after the last harvest to take advantage of the high market price. Those who have stored in cold storages are now selling it at a higher price and this is likely to increase further, says the Philippines-based scientist.
The current pandemic and the related fears have also led to a spike in potato prices – the highest in the last 10 years for July, he said citing the present market price ranging from ? 35 to ? 40 in several markets and the average price being ? 33 per kg.
The price fluctuation, mostly towards the higher side, is likely to continue as the COVID-19 cases spike in the country and the prices are likely to remain high until the rabi harvest enters the market in December.
Source: The Hindu. Read the full report here
