Potato-based industry needed to benefit farmers: Governor

Shimla, August 20

Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla said alternative sources of income should be made available to the farmers in view of the changing climatic conditions.

He was addressing on the 76th Foundation Day of the Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI), here today. He stressed the need to establish a potato-based industry in the state to benefit the farmers.

Shukla said that diversification of crops could prove to be fruitful to ensure food and nutrition security for the growing population of the country. “Potato is a major vegetable crop of India which contributes about 28 per cent of the total vegetable production. India was the second largest potato producer in the world after China, accounting for about 15 per cent of the global potato production,” he stated. During the year 2022-23, India reached a record high of over Rs 20 billion in the export value of potato.

The Governor said that potato crop was cultivated in about 14,000 hectare area in Himachal, producing approximately two lakh tonnes of crop. “Though this is less than the national average, the crop is of very good and unmatched quality, generating good income for farmers,” he said. He congratulated the institute for developing blight-resistant potato varieties like Kufri Himalini, Kufri Girdhari and Kufri Karan.

Shukla said that due to the research work and adoption of modern techniques by the institute, India was listed as a major producer of potato in the world. He said that during the last seven decades, there has been unprecedented progress in the area and production of potato.

He also congratulated the institute for developing more than 70 varieties, 25 patents and developing aeroponic methods for production of virus-free seed potatoes.