Potato self-reliance campaign launched

Radhakrishna Dumre,Waling (Syangja), Nov. 12: Putalibazaar Municipality in Syangja has launched a “Potato Self-Reliance Programme” to promote potato cultivation as a sustainable and profitable agricultural practice in the region. The campaign aims to increase local potato production and make the municipality self-sufficient in potatoes.

Mayor Tulsiram Regmi said that the municipality decided to promote potatoes as a cash crop after farmers complained that they were not receiving fair returns compared to their investment costs. He stated, “We had launched a campaign to encourage potato farming in the municipality. As the demand increased from the ward level, we are now distributing potato seeds under a subsidy programme.”

Mayor Regmi also mentioned that the municipality will help farmers by facilitating the marketing of the potatoes produced under this programme.

Potato seeds have been distributed to all 14 wards of the municipality based on the farmers’ requests. To make Putalibazaar self-reliant in potato production, the municipality has provided two varieties of potato seeds Janakdev and Khumal Seto-1. In total, 71,400 kilograms of seeds are being distributed across all wards.

Farmers had demanded 61,400 kilograms of Janakdev seeds and 10,000 kilograms of Khumal Seto seeds. As the local climate and geography are suitable for potato cultivation, farmers are now working toward self-reliance by growing potatoes in their fields and home gardens.According to Chief Administrative Officer Dharmaraj Dhungana, the seeds were purchased at Rs. 58 per kilogram, but farmers are receiving them at Rs. 29 per kilogram under a 50 percent subsidy.

Among all wards, Ward No. 3 has recorded the highest demand for potato seeds. The municipality has allocated Rs. 5 million for the Potato Self-Reliance Campaign in the current fiscal year 2082/83.