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PAU fears damage to potato, tomato crops

Ludhiana: Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) feared ``extensive'' damage to the production of potato and tomato in the State because of continuous cold weather conditions in the northern region.

``The consistent falling of thick layer of frost over potato and tomato crops during last couple of days could severely affect its yield and major affect would be visible on these crops when they are due to be harvested in the month of February,'' Head of the Department of Vegetables of PAU A. S. Sidhu said here today.

If intense cold conditions continues for a couple of days more, major portion of these crops would get damaged or lead to lower yield. ``Prices of potato and tomato could surge in the State in the coming months,'' said an expert.

The severity of the condition could be gauged from the fact that in spite of covering the crops with polythene or tarpaulin sheets, the frost layer still reaches the plant and causes damage, said Dr. Sidhu while adding that these sort of conditions were never witnessed during the last 15 years.

Punjab farmers cultivate potato and tomato on 74,000 hectares and 6,500 hectares of land respectively. The annual production of potato is around 14 lakh tonne while the production of tomato stands at 1.87 lakh tonne in the state. PTI

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PAU fears damage to potato, tomato crops

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