Farmers not buying potato seeds of government citing high price

By Kokila Dhakal,Ilam, Nov. 8: Since the potato seeds produced by the government are more expensive than those available in the local market during the winter potato planting season in the eastern hills, the provincial government of Koshi has failed to sell the potato seeds as per the target. The government had fixed the price of potato seeds at Rs. 80 per kg while the price of seeds in the local markets is Rs 40 to Rs 50 per kg.

At present, seeds of 'Bité' potato can be bought at Rs. 40 to Rs. 50 per kg in the markets and villages of Ilam. However, the price of this potato produced by the Farm Management Branch (FMB) under the provincial government in Jaubari of Ilam is fixed at Rs. 80 per kg.

The FMB has produced 25,000 kg of potato seeds this year on government land in Jaubari with government investment. However, since the seeds are expensive, only 11,000 kg were sold, said Balmukund Paikara, an employee of the FMB. 

"This time, the demand for potatoes is not particularly high," he said. The branch reported that 4,800 kg of sweet potatoes were produced. The first generation 'Janakdev' potatoes were produced 240 kg, 'Khumal Uphaar' 120 kg and 'Desire' 320 kg. The Agricultural Knowledge Centre in the district had issued a notice for the purchase of potatoes here. However, only three out of 10 municipalities have purchased a small amount of potatoes from the office and distributed them to the farmers at a concessional rate.

There is also a Potato Development Centre under the federal government or Nepal Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) in Jaubari. Potato seeds produced here are also being sold at Rs. 75-80 per kg depending on the quality. Janardan Gautam, an employee at the Centre, said, "Out of 10 tonnes of potatoes produced here, only about five tonnes have been sold."

On the other hand, the municipalities are distributing potato seeds to the farmers at the concessional rate by buying them from the market and not from the government. Ilam municipality wards 4 and 6 are now distributing potato seeds to the farmers  giving 20 per cent discount. 

Madan Shrestha, Chairman of Ward 6, said that because the government seeds were expensive, they bought them from the market at Rs. 40 to 50 per kg and distributed them to the farmers with 20 per cent share. "It is surprising that the government is selling the seed at a higher price than the market price instead offering concessions to the farmers," Shrestha said.

A trader from Biblyante of Ilam said that he was selling potato at Rs. 40 to 50 per kg. "Nowadays, potatoes have been produced abundantly in the village. I don't understand why the government is charging the double of the market price," he said.

The head of Agricultural Knowledge Centre, Toni Bardewa, said that since the price was set a few years ago, it is not relevant now. "The state government had set the price of potato seeds three to four years ago, this year we tried to reduce it, but it did not come down," he said.