Farmers preferring sugarcane production to potatoes in Meerut this year

Potato production numbers may fall this year in Meerut. Experts blame degrading congenial weather conditions and more farmers opting for cane plantation instead of potato as reasons behind the drop.

At present, Uttar Pradesh accounts for approximately 26 percent of the total horticulture production from the country. UP, however, tops in potato production among all states. But the contribution of Meerut in gross production of potatoes from the state might decrease this fiscal.

"The quantity of potato produce will be very less owing to the smaller size of the crop,"said Dhani Ram Verma, district horticulture officer. The potato produce in this season has not yet developed even as the harvesting time has ended, he added.

The clout of sugarcane over other crops, especially potato, has been increasing in the Meerut region. Farmers consider mounting yearly monetary losses in potato production as the prime reason. "I am planning to dedicate more area to cane instead of potato this year,"said Razi Hassan Rizvi, a farmer and Former Director of Daurala Cane Society.

Mr Rizvi is one of the many farmers who suffered huge losses as potato sales didn't bring enough money despite early arrivals of the crop. "The availability of old potato in the market at very low prices didn't let the consumers to pick new stock,"he added further.

Sudden weather changes during the sowing season have taken a toll on the crop. "The yield would be about 60 quintal per hectare of land this year compared to over 100 quintal per hectare last year"says Reyazuddin Chaudhary, another farmer, who has cultivated 15 hectares of his farmland with potato crop.

"The sowing month of potato continues between mid-October and mid-November. The months were hot and cold respectively compared to last year, therefore, the crop could not mature properly,"said Mr Chaudhary.