Make potato key source of farmers’ livelihood: Guv

Tribune news service

Shimla, August 22

Himachal Governor Kalraj Mishra today stressed the need to undertake intensive scientific research work on potato to encourage more and more farmers towards potato cultivation and making it a major source of their livelihood.

Speaking at a function organised by the Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI) on the occasion of its 71st Foundation Day here, he underlined the need to tackle new challenges in taking Indian potato to new heights, to balance fluctuations in production, increasing potato processing by more than eight per cent, taking potato exports beyond one per cent and reducing the post harvest losses by 16 per cent.

The Governor sought identification of special potato growing zones and setting up and promotion of import-export areas, exploring potato market within and outside the country and promoting the use of market intelligence and other information technologies to interconnect them.

He said that there is a need to build an environment where farmers get encouraged to adopt small business from their produce like chips production which would also boost ‘start-Up’ campaign.

He said during its journey of last seven decades, the CPRI has contributed immensely in the field of potato research. Himachal Pradesh has suitable climatic conditions for potato cultivation and the farmers of the state have been engaged in its cultivation for the last about 150 years.

The Governor expressed satisfaction over the fact that potato was being cultivated in about 14,000 hectares area in the state with total production about two lakh tonnes.