Falling potato prices worries Idukki farmers

As the harvesting of potato begins, the main crop in Vattavada and Kanthallur, farmers are faced with a sudden fall in its price.

Hundreds of acres, where grandis were grown earlier, had been brought under potato cultivation and the prices suddenly fell as the harvesting started.

An official of the Marayur Krishibhavan told

The Hindu on Tuesday that last year, the prices ranged between Rs 1,100 to 1,300 for a 45 kg sack. However, this time it has fallen to Rs 600. At Kanthallur, it has been certified by the Kerala Agriculture University that no harmful pesticides were found in the vegetables. The main items are potato, carrot, beetroot, beans and garlic.

The Agriculture Department under the Integrated Tribal Development Scheme had selected two tribal villages of Mangaparakudy and Vallavayalkudy for vegetable cultivation. Eighty-five hectares of land were brought under vegetable cultivation with nearly 50 hectares being potato. The harvesting of the potato started on Monday in these settlements. As it was aimed at initiating the tribal people into vegetable cultivation, the fall in the prices could make them retract from vegetable farming, the official said adding that in the coming days there are chances of further decline in the prices when the major portion starts arriving in the market. In Vattavada alone, of the 2,927 hectares total vegetable cultivation around 990 hectares is for potato.

This time the production is average and newly cultivated areas could make a better harvest, said P.T. Mohandas, president Kanthallur Cool Season Vegetable Marketing Farmers Society. The agency procures 75 per cent of the total production and supplies directly to Horticorp.

He said that the falling prices of potato and other vegetables in the prime season is a matter of concern.