These days the sowing of potatoes is going on in full swing in the hilly areas of the state. The potato crop, which is sown from the first week of February to the middle of April, is also being encouraged by the government. Potato is cultivated on a large scale in many areas including Lohaghat, Khetikhan, Devidhura, Kimtoli, Barakot of Champawat district. District Horticulture Officer T. N. Pandey informed that potato is cultivated on more than 11 thousand 8 hectares of land in all the four development blocks of the district, whose estimated production is 11,695 metric tons.