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Farmers have been advised to sell potato upon harvest.
The Domestic and Export Market Intelligence Cell (DEMIC) functioning in the Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies at the Farm Varsity here, has advised farmers to sell the potato immediately after harvest as they do not foresee rates picking up in the near-term.
‘Our analysis of the potato price movement in the Nilgiris Cooperative Marketing Society in Mettupalayam revealed that the price of good quality potation should range between Rs 14 and Rs 18 a kg in May and June. There is a possibility of the rate touching a high of Rs 20 a kg in May, but chances of the price moving further north is remote. Potato farmers should therefore offload the produce upon harvest,' said DEMIC experts.
Awareness
Besides advising farmers, the experts sought to create awareness amongst consumers about the quality of the potato that they procured in the market.
Quality parameters
The price of the Nilgiris potato is based on quality, size, colour and shelf-life. It is graded by labourers based on quality parameters. Superior quality potatoes come with yellow skin, while the medium quality ones have black skin.
Nilgiris potatoes are considered best because of its taste, hardness and longer shelf-life, and therefore command a higher price.
The produce from other States generally fetch a lower price as these do not match the potatoes from the hill in colour, taste or shelf-life.
High cost of cultivation, labour shortage and huge arrivals from other States has pushed the potato growers in the hills to shift to other vegetables.
The arrival of the Nilgiris potato is high between June and December. Arrivals peak in the months of August and September.
In Tamil Nadu, potato is grown in the hilly regions of Dindigul, Nilgiris, Krishnagiri and Erode districts. It is cultivated in 4,900 hectares in the State in 2011-12 against 4,700 hectares, the earlier year and production stood at 1,04,900 tonnes compared with 97,100 tonnes in 2010-11.
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