Hassan: Deputy commissioner KS Latha Kumari stated that traders should support farmers administratively, emotionally, and technically, while also providing high-quality seeds to improve their livelihoods.The DC addressed a programme organised by the horticulture department at Gandhi Bhavan here. She noted that Hassan district was once known for potatoes, but potato farmers have been decreasing recently. She emphasised the need to provide high-quality potato seeds, as farmers rely on crops for their livelihood.Traders requested a separate market centre for potatoes, to which, the DC assured a structured arrangement. All traders and agencies selling potatoes for the monsoon planting must register. Traders should inform farmers about the source, quality, and inspection status of the potatoes purchased from Punjab.Traders are required to sell only certified seeds and must specify on the purchase receipt that the potatoes are for planting. The horticulture department should form farmer delegations to oversee the selection, purchase, transportation, storage, and sale of seeds, ensuring farmer representation in these teams.The department should issue notifications containing details of available seed varieties, registered traders, and pest control measures for potato farming, along with the details of dealers/companies providing these plant protection chemicals, she added.A proposal to establish a cold storage facility in each hobli for potatoes should be submitted to the govt. The department should also propose distributing plant protection chemicals free of cost to farmers at the time of seed purchase, the DC added.The department must take necessary steps to insure crops at the time of seed purchase, and submit a proposal to the govt to fix a support price for potatoes. Suitable measures should be taken for potato seed production at the Somnahalli horticulture centre, and farmers should be informed about the activities at the research centre to benefit from them.Joint director of horticulture Yogesh, joint agriculture director Ramesh Kumar, Somnahalli horticulture department’s Nataraj, and potato traders were present.
