Progressive farmers in Punjab to export potatoes to CIS countries

Having already exported over 5,000 tonnes of potatoes to Russia, Jalandhar-based progressive farmers are contemplating to export the crop to Ukraine, Azerbaijan and other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries in next potato season. The export would be done either directly by the farmers or through the Punjab State Cooperative Supply & Marketing Federation (Markfed), a nodal agency for agriculture export. The farmers are eyeing to export about 100,000 tonnes in the next season, if the farmers get remunerative price for the crop.

Speaking to Business Standard, POSCON (Confederation of Potato Seed Farmers), Secretary General, Jang Bahadur Singh Sangha said, “We are working on the modalities and recently our members visited Russia and other CIS countries with Markfed officials to explore the opportunities. If the price of potato supports us in the next season, we would like to export it to Ukraine, Azerbaijan and other countries. If everything goes well, we are eyeing a export of 100,000 tonnes of Potato in the next season.”

This is for the first time potato growers in Jalandhar have inked a deal with Russian traders to export Potatoes. The first consignment was sent in February 2011 and this was for the first time when India exported potatoes to Russia.

He added, “Our POSCON members have exported over 5,000 tonne of potatoes to Russia. It was completely a new destination for us and we are keeping a tab on the future business prospects in Russia and other the neighbouring countries for exports if the exports seem to be conducive to us.”

Last season, potato was grown over about 84,000 hectares in Punjab and the total production was about 2.2 million tonnes. Further, normally the crop is sown in October and its harvesting begins in January-February.

In order to facilitate the exports, he demanded that the government should introduce freight subsidy on the transportation of the crop for exports to other states. Also, in order to stabilize the potato prices in domestic market, he suggested that there should be proper cold chain facilities. Sangha is also in process of setting up its own cold storage for perishable vegetables with an investment of Rs 15-20 crore.