BHOJPUR: Organic potatoes grown in Bhojpur have become a reliable source of income for local farmers. Once limited to household consumption, these potatoes are now reaching broader markets, thanks to improved road access.
Traders are now driving directly to farmers’ homes to purchase the potatoes, eliminating the need for middlemen. “In the past, we had to exchange potatoes for rice due to lack of transport, but now we’re selling them directly from home,” said Shiva Kumar Bista, a farmer from Temkemaiyung-5, Majhaule. “Road connectivity has transformed potato farming into a dependable source of income.”
This season, farmers are selling their organic potatoes for Rs 40 to Rs 45 per kilogram, directly from their villages. Ram Bahadur Bista, another local farmer, said that demand for potatoes grown in the highland regions has risen steadily. “Everyone in the village is involved in potato farming. Since they’re organic, the demand is strong,” he added.
In Majhaule and Cholanti villages, farmers are cultivating between 700 kg and 7,000 kg of potatoes per household. Over 85 households in the area are engaged in commercial potato farming. Popular varieties include Bhotange, Pankhadale, Dharane, and Sailunge, which are grown in large quantities.
According to the Agricultural Knowledge Center, Bhojpur district produced 51,900 metric tons of potatoes last year during the winter and rainy seasons. Potatoes are cultivated over 3,272 hectares of land in the district.
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