TAXILA, June 4: The potato harvesting is at its peak in various parts of the rural areas of the tehsil.

According to the officials of the Agriculture Department, 40,697 acres of land in the tehsil is used for potato harvesting.

Over the years, potato has become an important crop for both the farmers and consumers in Pakistan.

It is the fourth most important crop by volume of production as it is high yielding, having a high nutritive value and gives high returns to the farmers. Recently, the cultivation of the potato crop has increased to a large extent.

According to the Punjab Agricultural Department officials, Pakistan is self-sufficient in potatoes for household consumption as the local produce meets more than 99 per cent demand of the country.

They said that although Pakistan was a large potato producing country, it had very limited storage and processing facilities.

For enhancing potato production, the farmers must have suitable varieties and virus-free seed stock. The seed contributed to about 35 to 40 per cent of the total cost of the production, the officials said and added that the certified seed production was limited due to the lack of technical, economic and managerial skills, proper harvesting method and transport and storage facilities.

They said that although cold storage facility was available but treatment to the yield was unsatisfactory. Moreover, they said that the farmers and consumers always faced severe cyclical shortage which resulted in big fluctuations in prices. “Sometimes there is surplus produce and at another time there may be acute shortage,” they said and added that the uncertain situation caused loss to the growers.