Commercial potato farming becomes the norm for Rupandehi farmers
The creation of a potato production and processing zone that links seven municipalities in the district has led to an increase in commercial potato production in Rupandehi. Tilottama Municipality, Sainamaina Municipality, Shuddhodhan, Kanchan, Gaindahwa, Mayadevi, and Siyari Rural Municipalities have all started commercial potato farming. Farmers previously cultivated potatoes for household consumption, have now shifted to commercial production. PM’s Agriculture Modernisation Project in Rupandehi has launched a potato zone initiative to expand commercial potato farming, boost production, enhance quality, and facilitate marketisation.
The potato zone programme offers subsidies, facilitation, and support for irrigation infrastructure, mechanisation, micronutrients, storage, fertilizers, seeds, and market expansion to farmers in the first year. Potato farming yields higher income compared to mustard cultivation, with farmers earning up to Rs. 50,000 per katha. Expert Basudev Regmi and Shankar Tharu prefer commercial potato farming due to its ease and higher production. Up to two kilograms of potatoes per plant have been reported by farmers who used the project’s suggested seeds. According to Shantinagar, Shuddhodhan Rural Municipality-5 resident Ganga Prasad Gautam, the seeds he purchased from an agricultural cooperative have produced outstanding outcomes. On 15 katthas of land, Sainamaina-4 resident Devnarayan Chaudhary has been growing potatoes. He had been growing vegetables, but after the program started, he switched to growing potatoes.
