WALING, NOVEMBER 24

An agreement on purchase of potato has been signed between the farmers of Syangja and a company making potato products.

Farmers' Group, cooperative and Agriculture Knowledge Centre and local levels in Syangja signed such agreement with the First Choice Foods Company of Rupandehi district on potato procurement, Chief of Agriculture Knowledge Centre Syangja Binod Hamal said.

This is the first of its kind in the district, which has encouraged the farmers here to grow more potato, it is said.

Hamal shared that farmers from eight local levels in the district are doing potato farming in 1,700 ropani of land by uniting in 28 different cooperative organizations.

They are sowing the potato varieties released by the Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC) and the potato species include Khumal Ujjwal, Khumal Bikas and Janakdev, Hamal added.

The selected cooperatives have got 75 per cent subsidy in seeds procurement while they would be provided with grant in equipment purchase, collection, processing, irrigation system and infrastructure development as well.

The potato produced by the farmers would be sold to the company in the market rate. 'This has ensure good market for the potato produced here,' he said.

Likewise, the farmers would get Rs 2 per kilogram as incentive for the potato.

As the market is ensured for potato, the cooperatives in Syangja are hopeful of good income and are excited to grow more potato.

The First Choice Foods Company is making potato chips, French fries and other potato products. The company said that it is preparing to unveil new products from the upcoming year.