Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Feb 3: Consumers in the state will no longer have to shell out heavy prices to buy potato, an important kitchen item in the households, as the state government has formed a potato task force (PTF) to raise its production.
If things go as per government plans, home-grown potatoes will not only be sold here but also be supplied across the globe.
The government has set a target of increasing the potato farming area from 15000ha to 60,000 ha in the next three years. The PTF has been given a target of producing self-sufficient quality seeds during the period.
The PTF comprises officials of Agricultural department, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare department, Cooperation department, Horticulture, Agriculture marketing, senior scientists from Orissa University of Agricultural Technology, independent researchers and NGOs. The Horticulture department will be the nodal agency and Chief Secretary will monitor the progress of the project.
The PTF has been assigned the responsibility of cultivating potato in 2015-16 over 30,000ha, 45,000ha in 2016-17 and 60,000ha in 2017-18.
The task force has been assigned specific tasks of identifying land, distribution of quality seed, motivating farmers for potato cultivation by providing special incentives in the form of subsidised seeds, linking them with cold storages and helping them get good returns for the efforts.
The task force will ensure that the farmers get quality seeds from approved seed supplying agencies, monitor cultivation and seed production of potato, timely disbursement of subsidy to farmers, incentives for seed production, increasing cold storage capacity and providing insurance coverage under National Insurance Scheme among other things.
Potato output in the state has failed to meet state’s requirement of 10.21MTs per year. Only 20 per cent of the state’s demand is produced locally while the remaining is met through imports from neighbouring West Bengal.
