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Shimla, August 20 (HS). Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla said that in view of climate change, additional sources of income should be provided to farmers. He stressed the need to establish potato-based industry in the state.
The Governor was addressing as the chief guest on the 76th Foundation Day of Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI) Shimla here today.
Congratulating the institute on its foundation day, the Governor said that diversification of crops should be done to ensure nutritious food to the people. He said that potato is the major crop of the country, which contributes 28 per cent to the total vegetable production. He said that India ranks second in potato production in the world after China. About 15 per cent of the global potato production is produced in India. During the year 2022-23, India had recorded a record increase of more than Rs 20 billion in the export value of potatoes.
The Governor said that potato is cultivated in about 14000 hectares of area in Himachal Pradesh, in which about two lakh tonnes of potatoes are produced. High quality potatoes are grown in Himachal, which gives good income to the farmers. He congratulated the institute for developing blight resistant potato varieties like Kufri Himalini, Kufri Girdhari and Kufri Karan.
Shukla said that due to the research work done by the institute and adoption of modern techniques, India is recognized as the major producer of potatoes in the world. He said that potato production and potato production area have increased in the last seven decades.
He congratulated the Institute for developing more than 70 varieties of potato and developing aeroponic technology for production of virus free seed potato. He appreciated the efforts of the Institute for physical conservation of varieties and techniques. He also congratulated the Institute for getting more than 25 patents. He expressed concern over the declining interest of farmers towards potato cultivation in the State in the last few years and urged the scientists to find out various problems related to it through research.