Lack of seeds in this season has dampened the joy of the farmers. Despite the bumper yields and the prices of potatoes remaining unchanged in the coming season, farmers could not sow more potatoes. Due to this, the area of potato could also grow only 800 hectares.
Due to bumper production, there was a ruckus among the farmers to buy government seeds of potatoes. For the allocation of this at the end of September, the demand of 22,000 quintal seeds from the district level was sent to the government, but only 1400 quintals of seed were received, that too 50% Oversized.
Due to excessive demand and the allocation of potato seed work from the government, the horticulture department had done a lottery of 4 varieties of potato Surya, Chipsona 1, Chipsona 3 and Kufri Bahar.
Only 86 farmers could get seed in it and the rest had to return in despair.
During the last season, prices of potatoes remained high and at the end of the season also there was no reduction in prices. Potatoes at Dhanipur mandi were sold at the price of 35 to 40.
In the last three seasons, the prices of potatoes were very low, but it goes higher in the season of 2019-20.
Farmers took advantage of this situation. By the end of each season, cold stores that are filled up to 20–30 percent, have become empty by November. This had a direct effect on potato prices.
Bhoop Singh, Cold Store Incharge, Horticulture Department said that due to lack of seed, the area under potato is only increased about 800 hectares while it was expected to grow around 1500 hectares.