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Bhubaneswar: In the face of criticism for the failure of potato mission in the previous fiscal, the state government Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Utkal Tubers India Private Ltd to generate potato seeds to increase tuber output in the state.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Agriculture, farmers empowerment, fisheries and animal resource development minister Pradeep Maharathy.
According to officials, potato seed is the major constraint for its production in the state. Limited potato seeds generation is the sole reason for its poor output in the state. The task force report on potato estimated a requirement of 1.20 lakh tonne potato seeds by 2017-18. Thus, there is a huge gap between supply and demand.
“To meet the demand, large quantities of potato seeds are being procured by Orissa farmers from Punjab, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. The Directorate of Horticulture which drains the Government exchequer is also responsible for undermining the quality of the tuber due to their import through long distance transport,” said farm officials adding, “So the task force had recommended seed production within the state, with private involvement.”
Officials further said Utkal Tubers India Private Ltd from Bangalore has proposed to produce potato seeds in Orissa by establishing tissue culture laboratory for production of disease-free planting materials and for multiplying the production in the state.
“There is no virtual investment from Government side. As per the programme, about 1.10 lakh tonne potato seeds would be produced by 2020-21. This will ensure supply of potato seeds to Orissa farmers at reasonable price and help in area expansion and production of potato in the state,” Maharathy said.
The produced potato seeds will be marketed in Orissa and in eastern India.
As per the MoU, the Government will lease out 10 acres of land at Deras farm, Khurda to set up tissue culture laboratory and 40 acres of land at Semiliguda (Koraput) for seed multiplication with usual government rent for 15 years, extendable by 10 years with the approval of the state government and Utkal Tubers will establish the required infrastructure and seed multiplication at their own cost.
