India: Himachal sweet potatoes fetching good prices
The potatoes are sold in numerous regions, either as seed stock or for eating.
As per state agriculture department estimates, the valley has produced around 35,000 bags of 50 kg each of Kufri Chandramukhi and 150,000 bags of Kufri Jyoti, cultivated on 710 hectares.
Currently, the marketing society is selling a quintal (100 kg) of Kufri Jyoti at around Rs 2,000 ($36 US).
However, the entire stock of Kufri Chandramukhi and 50 percent of Kufri Jyoti has been sold out.
overall production is slightly lower than last year's, so a price rise could be expected, but they are more than double.
The state agriculture department has fixed Rs 1,750 per quintal as the procurement price of both varieties from the marketing society, which is one of the country's most successful groups of farmers with a membership of over 2,000.
The agriculture department says overall cultivation of potatoes in the valley has come down to 710 hectares from 1,700 hectares five to seven years ago.
Source: newstrackindia.com
