Odisha signs pact with NSC for seed potato production

The state government today inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with National Seeds Corporation (NSC) for production of seed potatoes.

The pact is expected to mitigate crunch in availability of the tuber and partially bridge the shortfall in the state’s own production and actual demand.

The annual requirement of potatoes in the state is about one million tonne but production is in the range of 200,000-250,000 tonne, leaving a gap of more than 800,000 tonne.

Area under potato cultivation has reduced from 25,000-30,000 hectares (ha) during 1960 to 14,000 ha now.

One of the major constraints to potato production is unavailability of quality seeds in time. The problem is compounded by lack of sufficient cold storage in the state.

According to the MoU, NSC will produce 50,000 quintals of seed potato and 1,500 quintals onion seeds during 2014-15 for sale during 2015-16.

Similarly 100,000 quintals of seed potato and 2,000 quintals of onion seeds will be produced during 2015-16 and 150,000 quintals of seed potato and 2,500 quintals of onion seeds will be produced during 2016-17.

The MoU was signed by S K Chadha, director (horticulture) and Pramod Kumar Pattnaik, regional manager, NSC.

“The directorate of horticulture will procure the seeds and distribute them among the farmers so that the farmers of Odisha can get the seeds at reasonable prices,” said Rajesh Verma, principal secretary (agriculture & food production).

The state government is also mulling to sign a similar MoU with National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation (NHRDF), Nashik for seed production of potato and onions.

The government has taken steps to increase seed production of potato in the state. International Potato Centre has been requested to provide short duration varieties befitting our rice based cropping system. Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla has already provided 200 quintals of breeder seeds.