Heavy October rains and more expensive seeds are likely to affect the potato harvest of the Uttar Pradesh area in India. The producers had to sow for a second time after the heavy rain damaged the seeds, making farmers worried about a coming lower harvest.
After the rains potato seeds almost doubled in price, while there is great uncertainty over potato rates, leaving farmers further discouraged. They are looking to the State Government to again arrange potato seeds like last year. As if that is not enough, other input costs such as fuel and fertilisers have increased too, adding to their woes. Some farmers are turning to alternative crops to survive.
Source: www.freepressjournal.in