Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Sept 1: The state government is mulling production of 4 lakh tonne tuber under Potato Mission in 2015-16 fiscal.
The resolve of the state government was made known at a meeting of state-level steering committee on Potato Mission chaired by Chief Secretary Gokul Chandra Pati at the Secretariat here Tuesday.
The government, under mission, has set a target of enhancing potato production up to 10 lakh tonne by 2017-18.
During the meeting the Chief Secretary advised the Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology to produce high-yield varieties of regional tuber on the lines of Phulbani potato through the Krishi Vigyan Kendras. He also suggested exhibitions on the basis of field studies to promote seed production.
Pati also advised the officials of state Industries department to plan and manage post-production activities and draw market strategies for supply and distribution of potatoes in the state.
He suggested creation of potato production clusters to connect with cold storages across the state. He said a well-maintained marketing strategy will help production and distribution to the advantage of the cultivators. This, at the same time, will meet the needs of the consumers across the state.
In view of the acute shortage of the tuber in the state the chief minister had recently cleared decks for the launch of the ‘State Potato mission’ from 2015-16 fiscal to boost potato production in the state. The state Cabinet had also approved the proposal to brining in changes in the existing Agriculture Policy 2013 to set up cold storages across the state.