January 8: Import of potato, a staple vegetable in Nepali kitchen, has decreased by 30,400 metric tons. In the current fiscal year, the country imported potatoes worth Rs 723 million less than last year.

According to the data at the Department of Customs, import of potatoes slumped in the first five months of the current fiscal year compared to the same period last year.

In the last few years, domestic potato production has risen, causing the import to slump. 
According to the data at the department, Nepal had imported 218,305 metric tons of potatoes worth 5.52 billion rupees from different countries in the first five months of fiscal year 2078/2079. 

As many as 187,858 metric tons of potatoes worth Rs 4.80 billion were imported during the same period in the current fiscal year.Statistics at the department show that potato import has been falling continuously in the recent years in Nepal. 

 In the fiscal year 2076/77, 341,914 tons of potatoes worth Rs 8.77 billion were imported, while 339,622 tons of potato worth Rs 8.49 billion were imported in the fiscal year of 2077/78.

Basudev Kafle, Head of  National Center for Potato, Vegetable and Spice Crops Development attributed rise in the domestic potation  production to the drop in the potato import. 

According to Kafle,  166 pocket areas have been established for potato farming and 200 farmers’ groups have been involved under the Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Programme across the country.

With involvement of farmers, food potato and seed potato promotion programmes have been implemented. 
As a result, farmers have received quality seed, contributing to the rise of potato production.

In the current fiscal year, a budget of Rs 147.8 million has been allocated to 97 local levels for food potato promotion and Rs 33.34 million to 22 local levels for seed potato promotion program.

Data at the center shows that the annual production of potatoes is increasing in recent years. 
In the fiscal year 2075/76, potato was cultivated in 193,200 hectares of land in Nepal. Country had produced 28,51,800 metric tons in the fiscal year.  

In the fiscal year 2076/77, potato was grown in 195,100 hectares of the land.  The potato production increased  to 31,12,900 metric tons of potatoes. Similarly, in the fiscal year 2077/78, as many as  3,325,000 metric  tons of potatoes were produced in 198,000 hectares of land.

Domestic potato production meets around 90 percent of total potato demand in the country.  However, experts say that large quantities of potatoes are imported for industrial raw materials. 

National center for Potato, Vegetable and Spice Crop Development Nigale’s Head Bijaya Kumar Giri says that import of 10 percent potato is enough to meet demand for consumption. 

“Potatoes are being imported in large quantities for chips, French fries and other products,”, added Giri. 
Until a few years ago, low-yielding potato seeds, such as, Cardinal, Kufri Sinduri, Kufri Jyoti would be distributed to the farmers. 

However, varieties of high-yielding seeds, such as, Janakdev, Khumal Lakshmi, Khumal Vikas are provided to the farmers for potation cultivation  these days, leading the potato production to rise. These seeds are less vulnerable to disease and pests, which also supports the growth of potato produce.