Bhojpur. The district produced 51,900 metric tonnes of potato in the last fiscal year. According to Agriculture Knowledge Centre, more than 51,000 metric tons of potatoes were produced in the district.

Potato is being produced on 3,272 hectares of land in the next two seasons, said information officer at Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Bhojpur, Ghanshyam Baral. He said that farmers who were limited to subsistence farming in the past have now started potato farming commercially. “The number of farmers involved in commercial potato farming has increased in the district of late”, he said, adding that over 51,000 metric tonnes of potatoes were produced in Bhojpur last year. Potato has become a good source of income for farmers. ’

The Knowledge Centre has been conducting incentive programmes by determining potato pocket areas in different places along with distribution of improved varieties of seeds. According to farmers, potato production is high in the district. Dhanraj Rai, a farmer of Temkemaiyung-5, said that it has become easier to sell potatoes after the road expansion to rural areas. According to him, contractors now come to their homes with vehicles to buy potatoes due to road access.

“Earlier, it was very difficult to sell paddy,” he said. But now the contractors come home with their vehicles after the road is expanded. According to him, farmers are more attracted to potato farming as they get timely price and easy access to market.