November 17: The production of potatoes and area of potato farming both have increased in the last four years, according to the data of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.

As per the ministry’s data, the area of potato cultivation has increased by 4,200 hectares and the production by about 300,000 metric tons during the review period.

Data provided by the ministry show that a total of 31,12,947metric tons of potatoes were produced in 193,997 hectares of land in Nepal in the fiscal year (FY) 2075/76.

In the year 2076/77, altogether 31,31,830 metric tons of potatoes were produced in 188,098 hectares of land.

In FY 2077/78, a total of 33,25,231 metric tons of potatoes were produced in 198,788 hectares of land. Similarly, in the year 2078/79, potato cultivation was done on a total of 198,256 hectares of land. According to the government data, 34,10,829 tons of potatoes were produced in that year.

According to Toyanath Joshi, information officer of the National Potato Vegetable and Spice Crop Development Center, the government has recently been working on allocating potato super-zones in various places in Nepal. In addition, most of the farmers are cultivating advanced varieties than local seeds, so the production has increased. He said that since potatoes can be stored for a long time, there won’t be any problem even if there is no immediate market for the produce. This is the reason that the farmers are interested in potato farming, says Joshi.

Although potato production has increased in the country recently, import of potatoes from India continues unabated.

According to government data, potatoes worth more than Rs 60 million are imported from abroad every year.