New Delhi: Uttarakhand is one of the Potato crop producing state it contributes about 10 percent to the countries total output, but this time it is expected to get damaged due to recent flash floods. The Centre sees no adverse impact on prices though.
“The damage to kharif potato crop in Uttarakhand is expected due to recent cloud burst,” an internal report of the agriculture ministry said.
However, there may not be any significant impact on availability and prices because the state has very less share in the country’s overall kharif potato output, it said.
About 20,000-22,000 hectare area is planted under kharif potato in Uttarakhand and harvesting has started, it added.
Last year, the state had produced 4.34 lakh tonnes of potato, while Indias total output was 41 lakh tonnes.
On availability and price situation, the report said that very less arrival of fresh kharif potatoes are reported in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi. As a result, the new crop is being sold at higher prices as compared to the stored potatoes.