Acute shortage of storage facilities leading to lower farmers realisation, absence of organised supply chains and logistics support and lack of quality seeds are the main hindrances faced by potato growers in India in harnessing its potential, an industry report on Thursday said.
?Farmers of various districts are being compelled to sell their potatoes at unsatisfactory price and inadequate storage capacity in warehouses further aggravates the problems of storing the perishable commodity,? the report conducted jointly by Indian Chambers of Commerce and Yes Bank said.
It observed that despite the presence of many cold storage owned by government as well as private sector in the country, ‘their number is very small compared to the agricultural production.’
Due to this mismatch between production and storage capacity, the farmers eventually suffers.
?Lack of easy stocking options for farmers leads to a glut in the market which eats into the profitability of the farmer,? the study titled ‘potato: ensuring food security in the developing world’ has noted.
On the losses incurred because of early or late blight diseases which hit potato production in West Bengal last year, a key producer, the report has recommended availability of certified disease resistant seed in large scale to prevent recurrence of the disease.
Indian potatoes face stiff competition from Australia and the United States because of unavailability of adequate quality standards.
The study also recommended constitution of a potato promotion board at the central level and strengthening of domestic market to promote exports and a price support policy for potato at national level.
According to an agriculture ministry official, due to good weather potato production has crossed 25 million tonne this year from 20- 22 million tonne last year.
While production of potato in Uttar Pradesh is estimated to be 12 million tonne, West Bengal has produced more than 9.5 million tonne this year.
Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal produce close to 70% of the total potato production in the country. More than 60% of the potato crop is raised in the rabi season, which would be harvested in April and May.