Large numbers of traders from Northern India have been buying potatoes from the Lahaul and Spiti districts of Himachal Pradesh, areas traditionally known for producing disease-free seed potatoes.

A large proportion of the crops are being procured by potato-growing states like West Bengal, Bihar and Karnataka. Previously the bulk of the produce went for seed purposes only but they are now being procured for consumption.

The rise in demand has been attributed to the recent decline in potato production across the rest of the country.