Lahaul seed potatoes fetch good prices in other states
Farmers society has received 16,500 bags of produce for sale
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Quote: Kufri Chandramukhi variety sells like hotcake
“This year, the seed potatoes of the Lahaul valley are fetching good prices. The highest price realised was Rs 2,700 per 50 kg bag of Kufri Chandramukhi, while the marketing of Kufri Jyoti variety is yet to start. Last year, the highest price Kufri Chandramukhi fetched was Rs 1,625 per 50 kg bag, while for Kufri Jyoti it was Rs 1,900”. — Sudarshan Jaspa, chairperson of Lahaul Potato Growers Society
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Dipender Manta
Tribune News Service
Mandi, October 23
The potatoes of the Lahaul valley are in huge demand in other states because of their disease-free seeds. The main seed potato varieties are Kufri Chandramukhi, Kufri Jyoti, Table Santana and Shafordi, which are also used for making chips.
This year, the Lahaul Potato Growers Society has received 16,500 bags (each bag of 50 kg) of seed potatoes for marketing from the farmers of the valley. It collects seed potatoes from the farmers of the valley and makes arrangements for their sale in other states at good prices.
But in the past few years, due to poor management, the society has lost its trust among farmers of the region as allegations of corruption have been levelled against its management. As a result, the farmers of the valley have not been sending their produce to it.
Lahaul Potato Growers Society chairperson Sudarshan Jaspa started a campaign in the last two years to win the confidence of the potato growers and convince them to send their produce to them for marketing.
Jaspa said, “This year, the seed potatoes of the Lahaul valley are fetching good prices. The highest price realised was Rs 2,700 per 50 kg bag of Kufri Chandramukhi, while the marketing of Kufri Jyoti variety is yet to start. Last year, the highest price Kufri Chandramukhi fetched was Rs 1,625 per 50 kg bag, while for Kufri Jyoti it was Rs 1,900”.
It is due to the efforts of the society management to gain the confidence of the farmers that around 16,500 bags of seed potatoes have been received this year, while last year, only 10,000 bags were received. The harvesting season of seed potatoes is going on and in the coming days, the number of potato bags may increase.
