Gulariya, January 8:

Potato crop has been affected by over 50 per cent in Bardiya this year due to coldwave and fungal diseases caused by cold, fog and lack of sunshine. Almost all farmers in Bardia grow potato as the main crop.

Manahari Bhandari, 72, of Mainapokhar-4 said he used to produce up to 10 quintals of potato from two katthas of land in the past but the potato plants have dried up this year. Bhosu Chaudhary of Belawa-7 said he sowed potato in six katthas but the disease shattered his hopes.

All farmers will suffer huge loss. They said that no matter what pesticide they used, it did not work.

The district agriculture development office said potato has been cultivated in 2,550 hectares of land in the district and over 75 per cent of the crop has been affected by late blight, a fungal disease. Agriculture technicians said potato production has been hit by over 50 per cent in the district.

Crop protection officer at the office, Rohini Yatri said teams had been mobilised to control the disease but to no avail. Diethene M-45 can prevent the disease while Kirnoskil can control the disease, she said.