Khajura (Banke), January 2:

The worries of potato farmers in Banke are mounting due to lack of market for their produce.

Farmers in Balapur of Mahadevpuri-6, who used to earn up to Rs 4 lakh every year from potatoes, said they are forced to think of giving up potato farming after they failed to sell their produce.

Until two years ago, potatoes from Balapur used to be sold in districts like Surkhet, Dailekh, Dang, Salyan, Pyuthan, Kathmandu and exported to many Indian towns.

Potato farming was promoted in the village following training by and technical assistance from two Swiss nationals on potato, seed production and vegetable farming for three years since 1990.

The farmers also opened a Potato Development and Seed production Cooperative to export and sell potatoes and seeds. Lil Bahadur Chhetri of the cooperative said their produce failed to capture the market due to the import of cheap potatoes from India by agents.