Foreigners are soon expected to taste the unique flavor of Badayun potatoes, as preparations are well underway to send the district’s produce to international markets. The horticultural office has made the necessary arrangements for this venture.
The plan is to dispatch potatoes abroad next month. Notably, a preliminary consignment has already been sent to the Gulf nation of Bahrain about a month ago. In addition to international exports, Badayun potatoes are also destined for several states within India.
Badayun’s soil is proving to be exceptionally fertile for potato cultivation, drawing comparisons to Farrukhabad. This year, potato farming covered an extensive area of 23.60 thousand hectares in the district. According to data from the Horticulture Department, this yielded a substantial 6.50 lakh metric tonnes of potatoes, marking an increase in production compared to the previous year, when 23 thousand hectares produced 5.50 lakh metric tonnes.
To accommodate this significant yield, the district boasts 102 cold storage facilities. Currently, five lakh metric tonnes of potatoes are stored in these facilities. The process of releasing potatoes from storage is scheduled to commence in the last week of May. It is during this period that the potatoes are planned for export.
The consignment sent to Bahrain in March, during the potato harvest season, totalled 29 hundred quintals. This initial export proved beneficial for farmers, who received a price ranging from 1900 to 2100 rupees per quintal for their produce. Preparations are now being intensified to send more potatoes to Arab countries, as there is reported demand from several nations in the Gulf region. Within India, Badayun potatoes will be sent to states such as West Bengal, Bihar, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, as well as to the neighbouring country of Nepal.
The cold storage units primarily house popular potato varieties including Chipsona, Kufri Anand, and Heera. Chipsona potatoes are particularly noted for being delicious for consumption and are largely cultivated in areas like Bilsi, Sahaswan, and Ujhani within the district.
Sunil Kumar, the District Horticulture Officer, confirmed the positive trend, stating that the productivity of potatoes in the district has risen. He reiterated that five lakh metric tonnes of potatoes are stored in the cold stores and that following the March consignment of 29 hundred quintals to Bahrain, plans are set to export to several other countries by the end of May. This move is expected to ensure that farmers receive a good price for their potatoes, in addition to supplying various states within the country. The impending export of Badayun’s plentiful potato harvest highlights the district’s growing importance in both domestic and international agricultural markets.
