TREND ANALYSIS OF AREA, PRODUCTION, PRODUCTIVITY, AND SUPPLY OF POTATO IN SINDHULI DISTRICT AND NEPAL: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

The study; conducted from January, 2020 to June, 2020; focuses on the comparative study of the area, production, and productivity trend of potatoes over 50 years in Sindhuli district and Nepal and a brief overview on quantity supply to the Kalimati fruits and vegetable market. The time-series data from 1968/69 to 2017/18 of Sindhuli and Nepal along with 6 years supply data (2013/14-2018/19) from different districts to Kalimati market were collected from reliable sources (Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and Kalimati Fruits and Vegetable Market Development Board) and analysis was done using Microsoft Excel. Between 1968/69 and 2017/18, the area under potato cultivation in Nepal and Sindhuli has changed by 573 percent and -46 percent respectively while production increased by 907.6 percent in Nepal and 46 percent in Sindhuli. After 1982 dramatic shift in production was observed in Nepal as there was 7 percent of growth rate while in Sindhuli, the production trend highly fluctuates throughout the period. The average yield was 9.75mt/ha and 8.75mt/ha for Nepal and Sindhuli district. Sindhuli district contributes 1.16 percent of Nepalese potato growing area and 0.91 percent of Nepalese potato production. The trend of quantity supply reveals that during 6 years, Indian potato contributes 58 percent of the total amount that came into Kalimati market, while within-country Kavre has the largest share of 19 percent followed by Kathmandu-6 percent and Dolakha-4 percent. However, the trend of quantity supply of potatoes seems highly fluctuating and the Nepalese market is dominated by Indian imports