Shopian, Nov 08 (KNO): Farmers in Hirpora hamlet of south Kashmir's Shopian district are celebrating a remarkable potato harvest this year as new varieties such as Kufri Sona, Kufri Goruv and Pukhraj have delivered bumper yields—far higher than the region’s traditional red Hirpora potatoes.
Officials from the agriculture department told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that farmers have recorded almost 16 times more yield compared to the quantity of seed they had sown.
Growers said this season has been one of the most successful in recent years. "For decades, people here mainly grew the local red Hirpora potato. But its production had drastically reduced due to diseases and repeated crop failures," said Jahangir Ahmad, a farmer from Dachnoo Hirpora.
He said these advanced varieties, though not of traditional crunch and taste, have proven to be a game-changer in the area. "Our productivity has improved, and the earnings from potatoes this year are much better," he added.
Ahmad said Kufri Sona, Kufri Goruv and Pukhraj were specially developed to withstand common potato diseases and perform well even in tough climate conditions. "These varieties have shown very good results in the soil of Hirpora," he said.
Other farmers also echoed similar sentiments. "For years, we were struggling with the old variety. It was disease-prone, and we had to spend heavily on pesticides," said a group of growers. "But these new varieties have given us a bumper crop with almost half the effort. Our income has increased, and we are hopeful that the coming years will be even more prosperous."
They appealed to the government to continue supporting them with timely access to improved seed varieties.
"Our livelihood largely depends on potato cultivation. The government must continue introducing more efficient and high-yielding varieties so that people here can sustain themselves better," farmers said.
Agriculture experts also attribute the success to improvements in farming practices and seed quality.
"Promotion of modern farming techniques along with availability of quality seed has shown its results here," said an official from the agriculture department. "The introduction of Kufri Sona, Kufri Goruv and Pukhraj aligns with our objective of boosting farmer incomes. These varieties require fewer inputs and are more sustainable for the future."
Local growers now hope that this successful season marks the beginning of a long-term shift in potato farming in Hirpora—one that promises improved production, financial stability and reduced crop losses in the coming years—(KNO)