SHIMLA: Banning of potato imports from Himachal Pradesh has left the residents of tribal Lahaul-Spiti district worried, as untimely heavy snowfall last month already has damaged their cash crops , apple and cabbage. The ban was imposed following detection of Nematode virus in the potato samples of districts, including Una, Kullu and Shimla. According to agriculture minister and Lahaul-Spiti MLA, Dr Ram La Markanda, no virus was detected in Lahaul-Spiti potatoes and, therefore,ban should be lifted for their region. On Monday, a high level team from the state, headed by Markanda, would meet Union Agriculture Minister in New Delhi in this regard.The seed potatoes of Lahaul-Spiti is in great demand not only in West Bengal, Gujarat and other parts of India but also in Pakistan. At present, they are grown in 747 hectare area in the entire district.According to Markanda, the residents of Lahaul-Spiti have already suffered extensive damage because of untimely snow due to which 80% of apple crop has been damaged and plants broken. “Now this decision of Centre has left the residents in a lurch.”State government has formed a four-member committee headed by director, agriculture to submit a report on the repercussions of the ban. “In the committee formed by the government, experts from Central Potato Research Institute and CSK Agriculture University Palampur have also been included. The committee will suggest whether the seed potato is suitable for further distribution or not,” Markanda said.

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