Till two years ago, the market would be flooded with local supply, and imports from India would bridge the deficit that was at best at 20 percent of the total demand. [break]
But records show, Indian supplies at present stand at over 40 percent of the total demand at the Kalimati wholesale market, which is the largest vegetable market in the country and supplies exclusively to the Kathmandu valley.
"Though it´s the harvest time for potato, we are still importing over 100 tons of potato from India to fulfill the demand of the valley, which stands at around 250 tons a day," said Krishna Bhakta, a wholesaler at Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market.
In the past, potato from Kavre, Kathmandu, Makawanpur and Nuwakot would meet the demand to a large extent. The production would be good and the farmers would sell the produce in the valley. But, in recent years, farmers from those districts are selling their potatoes in Tarai districts to traders who export the potatoes to India and Bangladesh, among other neighboring countries.
"The production has not increased significantly whereas the demand has jumped many times in the valley. On top of that, farmers who are now more particular about prices are approaching new markets for better returns," said Binay Shrestha, senior planning officer at Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Committee, explaining the reasons behind the valley´s dependence on Indian potatoes.
Records show farmers in Kathmandu would fulfill well around 47 percent of Kalimati market´s demand till 2009. Now, their supply makes for just around 12 percent.
Kavre that used to occupy a market share of 25 percent till 2009, however, enjoys significant growth in the market share. It fulfills 35 percent of the valley´s potato demand now. India´s share, meanwhile, has jumped from 21 percent in 2009 to 47 percent at present. As a result of rise in demand and change in suppliers´ composition, the potato prices have also gone up in the market.
Govinda Parsad Acharya, chief of National Potato Development Program, said even though the government has no official data, potatoes grown in the border areas are exported to India.
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