Bumper harvest: At 33.12 lakh tonne, Punjab farmers reap highest potato yield this year

According to data collected by the Horticulture Department, Punjab produced 33.12 lakh tonne (LT) of potatoes this year, an increase of around 62,000 tonne than last year when the state recorded the production at 32.50 LT. In 2022, the production was 31.56 LT.

This marks a significant improvement despite only a slight increase in cultivated area, which expanded to 1.20 lakh hecatres in 2024 against 1.17 lakh hecatres last year and 1.14 lakh hectares in 2022.

Experts attribute the increase in productivity to the availability of high-quality, high-yield seed varieties, which have contributed to improved potato cultivation practices. The productivity per hectare in Punjab was recorded at around 27.60 tonne which is almost close to the previous years.

Jalandhar district has witnessed highest area with 26,000 hectares, followed by Ludhiana and Hoshiarpur at 18,000 hecatres each, Kapurthala at 11,000 hectares and Bathinda at 6,000 hectares.

Earlier potato crop was limited to only the traditional Doaba region — Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, and Nawanshahr — but now several other districts of Punjab are also growing potatoes.

Around 60 per cent to 61 per cent of the state’s total potato production, approximately 20 lakh tonne, is dedicated to seed potatoes, a key element in ensuring continued growth in the potato sector.

Punjab’s seed potatoes are highly sought after, with farmers across India — including in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, and Maharashtra — relying on the state’s high-quality tubers for their own cultivation needs.

The potato growers also maintain tuber sizes carefully and ensure that the harvested potatoes are stored properly to preserve their quality. It’s a labor-intensive process, but it’s worth it when farmers see the good prices and the demand for quality seed potatoes.

While Punjab’s self consumption is around 7 lakh tonne, the remaining is transported to other states of the country and even to Bangladesh and Nepal.
The state’s renowned potato varieties, including Kufri Jyoti, Pukhraj, Chipsona, Badshah, and Diamond, continue to dominate the market, with farmers in the state setting the standard for seed quality. The region’s cold storage infrastructure, with around 632 cold stores capable of holding approximately 29.66 lakh tonne, supports the state’s large-scale production, ensuring year-round availability.

This year, potato farmers in Punjab are selling table potatoes at Rs 11 to Rs 12 per kg —considered a favorable price — and seed potatoes are being sold between Rs 18 and Rs 40 per kg, depending on the variety. The prices are a welcome relief and are providing much-needed financial stability for potato growers. Potato cultivation in Punjab begins in October, with harvesting taking place from February to March. A unique practice in Hoshiarpur district involves the early harvesting of ‘kutchi putai’ potatoes by late November.

These small-sized potatoes, highly demanded in Delhi markets, fetch a premium price. After the harvest, the land is typically prepared for wheat sowing.
Over the years, Punjab’s potato production has shown steady growth. While the 2021-22, the state’s production reached 30.50 lakh tonne, it consistently exceeded 30 lakh tonne since 2022, a clear indicator of both improved farming practices and favorable market conditions.

Between 2004-05 and 2015-16, Punjab’s potato production grew from 14.70 lakh tonne to 23.85 lakh tonne, while the area under cultivation expanded from 72,000 hectares to 92,000 hectares.

Horticulture Department officials said that with increased production, steady prices, and growing demand for quality seed potatoes, the future looks promising for potato farmers in Punjab. However, processing units must also be set up in the state to protect farmers from potential losses in case the prices of the crop drop in any year.