BAGLUNG: The area under ‘food potato’ cultivation is expanding across Baglung district, as local authorities aim to encourage farmers to adopt potato farming as a reliable source of income.
The Agricultural Knowledge Center Baglung has been working for the past three years to increase production across all 10 local levels in the district.
The high-altitude regions of Nisikhola, Tamankhola, Tarakhola Rural Municipality, and the municipalities of Dhorpatan, Galkot, and Jaimini have proven to be particularly productive for potato farming.
According to Rajeshwor Silwal, Chief of the Agricultural Knowledge Center, the expansion is being driven by the crop’s low production costs and increasing demand.
Chief Silwal noted that since fiscal year 2080/81, significant investments have been made to increase the cultivation area: Rs 26 million in FY 2080/81, Rs 15.9 million in FY 2081/82, and Rs 5.9 million so far in the current fiscal year.
He added that the program includes the introduction of new farming technologies, better fertilizer management, improved irrigation systems, and the use of high-yield seed varieties.
“This year, our goal is to expand the area of potato farming by an additional 43 hectares,” said Silwal. “Potato cultivation in Baglung is thriving, and farmers are increasingly enthusiastic. This initiative will support them in earning a stable livelihood.”
Currently, potatoes are cultivated on approximately 3,700 hectares in the district. Last year, Baglung produced 56,240 metric tons of potatoes.
These are supplied to urban markets including Baglung, Pokhara, Butwal, Chitwan, and other cities. Notably, farmers have not had to import potatoes so far this year.
Krishnalal Kandel, a farmer from Dhorpatan Municipality–5, said production has been steadily increasing with better access to irrigation and fertilizers. “Since I started growing food potatoes, my harvest has improved every year,” he said.
To further boost staple crop production, the Agricultural Knowledge Center is investing Rs 3.7 million this fiscal year under its food crop promotion program.
The initiative is being implemented through local agricultural cooperatives and groups, with the goal that each group cultivates at least one crop on 100 ropanis of land.
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