Karnal, February 20: Potato farmers in the state are currently facing a severe financial crisis. Rising production costs and extremely low market prices are causing them significant losses. The situation has become so dire that farmers are unable to even cover their costs and are increasingly burdened with debt.
According to reports, farmers are spending approximately ?1,450 per quintal on potato production, while receiving only ?300 to ?400 per quintal for their produce in the markets. This huge gap between cost and selling price has severely weakened the farmers' financial situation.
Expressing deep concern over the continuously deteriorating situation of potato farmers, Ratanman, State President of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, stated that today, farmers are suffering not from any one aspect but from the entire disorganized agricultural system. He stated that potato farmers are neither receiving a fair price for their crop nor any solid protection from the government or the market.
Ratanman stated that farmers cultivated potatoes with confidence and incurred significant costs, but after the harvest, they feel completely helpless. Market prices have plummeted. There is no guarantee of purchase, and when farmers stand up with their produce, they face significant difficulties.
He stated that it is unfortunate that when farmers are in distress, neither government agencies nor the market system are providing relief, nor are purchase agreements being implemented seriously. Potato farmers are bearing the direct brunt of this, being pushed into a quagmire of debt and losses.

**Contract companies have also abandoned potato farmers**
Ratanman raised sharp questions about the attitude of private contract companies, stating that companies that had signed firm agreements with farmers for the purchase of potatoes and seeds are now shirking their responsibility by citing rejections in the face of falling market prices. He alleged that farmers were initially encouraged to produce in the name of contracts. However, now, after the harvest is ready, backing out of procurement under the pretext of rejection is a clear betrayal of the farmers. Ratanman said that due to this arbitrary approach, farmers are facing a double whammy. On one hand, costs have risen, and on the other, market prices have fallen. In such a situation, the withdrawal of contract companies is leaving farmers completely helpless.

**Warning of agitation**
The Bharatiya Kisan Union has warned that if the farmers' problems are not resolved soon, the organization will be forced to launch a large-scale agitation across the state. Farmers say that the government should immediately intervene and take concrete, farmer-friendly decisions. Otherwise, the future of potato farming could be in jeopardy.

**Solution: Amendments to the Price Difference Compensation Scheme, Special Grant Demanded**
Farmers' organizations have demanded that the government increase the fixed price of potatoes under the Price Difference Compensation Scheme from ?600 per quintal to at least ?950 per quintal, so that farmers can receive relief based on actual costs. They also demand that the scheme funds be deposited directly into farmers' accounts without delay. The Bharatiya Kisan Union has also demanded a special grant of ?50,000 per acre to protect potato cultivation and provide relief to farmers. The organization states that rising costs, expensive seeds, and agricultural resources are making it difficult for farmers to continue farming.