Mustang farmers engage in collective potato farming

By Hari Krishna Sharma,Muktinath (Mustang), Aug. 29: The collective potato cultivation has been carried out in an area of about 100 ropanis of land in Lomanthang Rural Municipality-3, Tinkar village of Upper Mustang. 

Fifteen farmers from the settlement, which is located at an altitude of 4,050 metres above sea level, have cultivated potatoes in a collective manner. 

Farmers in Tinkar, which has suitable soil for potato production, sell potatoes grown in their own land and in collective farms every year. 

Local farmers are excited about potato cultivation after receiving encouragement from the rural municipality, Agricultural Knowledge Centre, and Prime Minister Agriculture Modernisation Project for potatoes grown without using any chemical fertilisers, said Angjen Gurung, Ward Chairman of Lomanthang Rural Municipality-3.

He said, "Potato farming has made it much easier for farmers here. Potato farming is expanding rapidly on barren land every year."  Potato farming is now being done on land that was previously barren, he said. 

According to local farmer Karma Chendu Gurung, farming is expanding every year as there is no shortage of market for the potatoes produced here. 

"Potato farming is now being done on land that was barren for years, and even those who left the settlement have returned and started farming potatoes," he said.  As potatoes grown in the cold climate are very tasty, traders are booking in the potato before harvesting, said farmer Gurung. 

According to Bikash Khatri, Chief Administrative Officer of Lomanthang Rural Municipality, potatoes will be grown on the arable land of Lomanthang.

Along with local varieties of seeds, potato seeds are being planted under the potato promotion programme under subsidy.  It is estimated that more than 50 tonnes of potatoes have been grown in Lomanthang Rural Municipality this year. Potatoes are sold for up to Rs. 60 per kg.

Information Officer of Agricultural Knowledge Centre, Mustang Shiva Ganesh Kurmi Chaudhary said that the Centre has provided a subsidy of Rs. 125,000 for the organic fertiliser distribution programme for an area of 40 ropanis to the Phuwa Samdeling Farmers Group in Ward No. 3 of Lomanthang Rural Municipality, and a subsidy of Rs. 168,750 for the seed potato support programme. 

Similarly, the Centre has provided subsidy of Rs. 93,712 under the organic fertiliser distribution programme for an area of 30 ropanis to the Kimling Farmers Group in Ward No. 4 and the Lomanthang Agricultural Group in Ward No. 5 and a subsidy of Rs. 126,562 for the seed potato support programme. 

Farmers of Lo Ghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality in Upper Mustang have also been attracted to potato farming gradually. Aiming to promote commercial potato production and processing, Potatoes Zone Programme has been operating in five local levels of Mustang from last fiscal year. 

According to Bharat Raj Gautam, head of the project's Jomsom office, 71 agricultural farms, groups and government agencies were listed in the Potato Zone Programme in the last fiscal year 2024/25 with the aim of expanding commercial potato farming, improving quality, increasing production and helping in marketing. 

The Agricultural Knowledge Centre said that around 7,032 tonnes were produced last year in an area of 459 hectares across the district.  This year, potatoes are being harvested in full swing in Lower Mustang, while in the upper region, potatoes will be harvested in October. Potatoes produced in Mustang are supplied to various districts of the country, including neighbouring Myagdi, Kaski, Kathmandu, Butwal and others. As potatoes grown in the cold climate are very tasty, tourists visiting Mustang often buy and take them.