Mahindra HZPC inaugurates seed potato plant in Mohali

Mahindra group's joint venture firm Mahindra HZPC today inaugurated its facility in Mohali to produce high quality seeds of potatoes that could boost yield by 10-30 per cent.
The 60:40 JV of Mahindra Agri Solutions Ltd (MASL) and HZPC inaugurated its modern Aeroponics facility. The plant was inaugurated by Alphonsus Stoelinga, the Ambassador of Netherlands, in the presence of Ashok Sharma, MD & CEO, MASL and Gerard Backx, CEO, HZPC Holding BV.
"The new facility will produce the best in class seed potato by using an innovative process and latest technology. This will translate into high quality seed potatoes for the Indian farmer and in turn for the consumer," the company said in a statement.

Aeroponics is a plant cultivation technique in which plant roots are suspended in the air while nutrient solutions are delivered to them in a fine mist. The facility is set to give the best quality of potato seeds to the Indian farmer.
The advanced greenhouse technology would help raise yield and protect plants against environmental diseases, the company said, adding that it would reduce time to market for new potato varieties
"For farmers, this will translate into virus-free world class seeds which will increase productivity by 10-30 per cent, providing the much needed fillip to farmer incomes," the company said.

Sharma said: "As pioneers of farming technology in India, Mahindra is committed towards building disruptive innovations that bring significant benefits for our farmer community as well as end consumers.

"Aeroponics is one such example - it will drastically change the landscape of agriculture by providing world class seeds to our farmers which will lead to higher productivity and increased cultivation, in line with our vision of Delivering FarmTech Prosperity."
Mahindra HZPC's Aeroponics facility has a capacity to generate 3 million minitubers, and the first production batch is slated to be out in January, 2017.
Also, Mahindra HZPC plans to launch 6 new varieties of potato, half of which will cater to the end consumers and the remaining will be targeted at the processing sector.

Mahindra HZPC owns another facility in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh. The two plants together are capable of generating 15 million minitubers within a couple of years.
With its wide portfolio of inputs like seeds, crop care, micro-irrigation services backed by high quality advisory through Samriddhi outlets, Mahindra Agri Business has helped Indian farmers increase their productivity over the years.
HZPC is the innovative world leader in potato breeding and seed potato trade.