Koraput is a region where acres and acres of land are dedicated for the cultivation of sweet potato. Therefore, there are quintals of sweet potatoes grown every year in this region. However, the farmers growing sweet potato this year are very distressed for the less sell of products.
As per reports, farmers in Dasmantpur, Laxmipur, Potangi and Semiliguda areas of Koraput had undertaken sweet potato farming over a combined stretch of 3787 hectares of land. The bumper production of crops this season has resulted in rich harvest of around 80-100 quintals of sweet potatoes per acre.
However the main issue is selling the sweet potatoes. Due to lack of market facilities, a large chunk of volume is not being able to sell. As a result, the price of their product is even lesser than last year.
Expressing frustration over the situation, a farmer said, “We have been undertaking sweet potato farming since last eight years. Earlier we had sold our products at Rs 12 to Rs 13 per kg and had expected more profits due to bumper production. But this year we are forced to sell it at below par price.
“It has become increasingly difficult for us even to cover the cost of our production this year, forget about profit. We are wondering how to make both our ends meet,” rued the farmer.
