Shortage of seed potatoes

Eggplant cultivation

Potato farmers in Welimada have been in a predicament due to the shortage of seed c that resulted in a sharp drop in yield by 40 percent during the Yala season. Farmers warn that such a scenario will result in a shortage of potatoes in the market leading to a price hike. Farmers pointed out that the situation would worsen in the Maha season when the prices of seed potatoes surge. 

President of the Boralanda Farmer Society K.M.Chamara said thousands of traditional farmers who depended on potato  cultivation have been seriously affected by the shortage of seed potatoes.

“It was in the 1960s that potato cultivation in the country flourished and its prime mover was a senior official of the Boralanda Agricultural Research Centre Norman Gunatillake. However, about 60 percent of potato farmers have distanced themselves from potato cultivation due to the heavy losses incurred by them. The cost of cultivation has shot up by a large percentage compelling farmers to switch to other crops. Last year we had to spend about Rs.60, 000 per cultivation of 50 kilos of seed potatoes, but inclement weather resulted in crop devastation. The cost of seed potatoes, fertiliser, labour and transport has shot up in leaps and bounds. Usually we keep a share of the yield as seed potato but it was not possible this year due to the crop devastation caused by heavy rain. The farmers are facing a shortage of seed potatoes for the Yala season. ” 

Yala and Maha seasons 

“I cultivate 500 kilos of seed potatoes for the Yala and Maha seasons every year. However, I have been compelled to give up potato cultivation in the Yala season and switch to carrot cultivation which is cheaper. Potato cultivation has been affected by a sharp drop of about  70 percent in the Yala season” he said. 

President of the Ambewela Agricultural Scheme H.M.Karunaratne (65)  said the farmers in the Welimada plateau meet a large percentage of the country’s potato requirement. 

“Our cultivable land comes under the Ambewela Irrigation Scheme. Potato cultivation last year faced crop devastation creating a shortage of seed potatoes. Farmers who cultivated about 1000 kilos of seed potatoes reduced it to about 200 kilos. The price of 50 kilos of seed potatoes is more than Rs.25,000 while a bag of 50 kilos of fertilizer is between Rs.8000 and 11,000.

Unlimited quantities

Meanwhile, the government imports potatoes almost in unlimited quantities during the harvesting season and it has been going on unchecked. Our continual representation to successive governments to increase the customs duty on imports and curtail the import of potatoes  during the harvesting season fell on deaf ears. The government’s policy will ruin the local potato farmers and enrich the farmers in other countries. We need a stable and lucrative market for our produce. Farmers have switched to low-cost cultivation of carrot beetroot, beans, leeks, and brinjals. During the Maha season last year we experienced heavy rain that devastated the crop. The farmers were left high and dry without the means to meet their initial expenses.  A severe shortage of potatoes in the market and the consequent price hike is unavoidable” he said.

A potato cultivator of Medawela in Uva Paranagama S. B Samarakoon (78) said potato cultivation in the country was facing a serious setback much to the anxiety of the farmers.

“The price of 50 kilos of imported seed potatoes is between Rs. 36,000 and 40,000 while those supplied by the Department of Agriculture are between Rs. 25,000 and 30,000.The cost of cultivating 50 kilos of seed potatoes is more than Rs.80,000. The farmers have to take a risk in the Maha season in view of any possible danger from heavy rains. The cultivation during the Maha season last year was affected by rains. Several farmers have sold their seed potatoes and switched to low-cost vegetable cultivation. They are not to blame given the losses incurred by them and the uncertainty of a remunerative market for their produce. More than 70 percent of potato farmers have given up  cultivation,” he said. 

Jaffna farmers

President of the Uva Paranagama  Farmer Collective W.M.Gunawardene said farmers in Jaffna followed suit of the Welimada farmers and took to other cultivation. 

Agricultural Officer of the Rangala Farm in Boralanda Norman Gunatilaka pointed out that potato cultivation in the country will be successful.   The Department of Agriculture assured that it will import high-quality seed potatoes. However, after 1977 the import of seed potatoes and agrochemicals became a monopoly of multinational companies. This resulted in the import of substandard seed potatoes.  They create a shortage of seed potatoes by reducing imports and increasing the prices. This could be prevented if the Department increased the production of seed potatoes. A mechanism should be in place to protect the local potato farmer by providing a stable and lucrative market and controlling imports” he said.

He further said the only request of the farmers is to make seed potatoes, fertilizer and agrochemicals available for a reasonable price and to provide them a remunerative market for the produce.