Badaun, Uttar Pradesh has witnessed a record potato harvest, leading to its cold storage facilities being filled to near capacity. Approximately 4.5 lakh metric tons of potatoes have already been stored in the district’s cold stores.
Farmers in Badaun have experienced a significantly better yield this year, with production reaching 300 to 350 quintals per hectare, compared to around 250 quintals per hectare in the previous year4. This surge in production has resulted in the rapid filling of the 101 cold stores located in the district, with a majority situated in the Bisauli and Sadar regions.
According to the Department of Horticulture, 97 percent of the cold storage capacity in the district is now occupied. While officials state that farmers who haven’t yet stored their produce can still do so, many farmers are now approaching cold store operators, who are largely stating that their facilities are completely full.
This situation is leaving farmers with limited options. Mr Lal Singh, a potato farmer from the Ujhani area, expressed his concern that while storing the remaining potatoes would allow them to potentially fetch better prices in the future, the current warm weather necessitates selling the unstored produce at the prevailing rates to avoid spoilage.
The current market price for potatoes is around ₹1,050 per quintal, a decrease from ₹1,200 per quintal a month prior. Both farmers and traders have purchased and stored potatoes, likely anticipating future profits.
Sunil Kumar, the District Horticulture Officer (DHO), has urged farmers facing difficulties with storage to make the authorities aware, assuring that efforts will be made to facilitate the storage of their produce. He also noted the significantly better potato production this year compared to last year.
In the Bisauli region, many farmers opted for cultivating the Chipsona and Kufri Anand varieties of potatoes, which are also grown in the Ujhani and Islamnagar areas due to their high market demand4.
The overflowing cold stores, while indicative of a successful harvest, present immediate challenges for a segment of potato farmers in Badaun who are seeking secure storage for their remaining produce.
