Just before the onset of farming season immediately after monsoon, potato farmers in northern West Bengal are now exposed to a critical scenario of seed potato.
“Potato in West Bengal had always remained dependent on seed imported from UP or Punjab. But the choice turned towards seed from neighbouring country Bhutan couple of years back,” said A. Choudhury DEAN, North Bengal Agriculture University.
According to the farmers, the shift took place mainly due to fewer hazards in importing them from Bhutan. Indo-Bhutan border is just within 100 km from Jalpaiguri and Cochbehar districts those contribute around 30 per cent to West Bengal’s total output which is near 7.5 per cent of India’s national yield of around 450 Lakh Metric ton.
