Include potato in Agri Export Policy:MP

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 7

MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh today demanded that potato should be included in the newly- announced Agriculture Export Policy, so that potato-growers could be protected from the frequent losses that they were facing.

“Jalandhar-Kapurthala area is known as the potato belt of the region and it is experienced that in every alternative year, potato growers are forced to face losses due to one reason or another.”

The MP said: “Inclusion of the crop in the Agri Export Policy would provide farmers an opportunity to export their produce.”

“ Farmers of Jalandhar, which is famous in the country for its produce of potato seeds, which are in demand all over the country, even opted for EuropeGap certification of their crop to pave the way for its export, but all efforts turned failed, due to the lack of government’s support,” he added.

It is pertinent to mention here that on Thursday the union cabinet approved the ‘Agriculture Export Policy, with an aim to double farm export by 2022 — from the present $30 billion to $60 billion by 2022 — and reach $100 billion in the next few years thereafter with a stable trade policy regime.

The move on a stable trade policy regime will minimise the practice of export curbs, assuring farm exporters of no interference from the government.