Tamil Nadu - Udhagamandalam   

`2008 will be observed as International Year of Potato'

Special Correspondent

PROMOTING CULTIVATION: The Vice-Chancellor,Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, C.Ramasamy, addressing a symposium on potato cultivation, in Udhagamandalam on Friday. — Photo: D. Radhakrishnan

Udhagamandalam: Potato can play a crucial role in combating hunger and poverty worldwide, said the Vice Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, C.Ramasamy at a symposium on potato cultivation organised by the Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI), here on Friday.

In order to focus the attention of the world on the potential of potato, the United Nations General Assembly had declared 2008 as the International Year of the Potato (IYP).

Potatoes are crucial to the food security of hundreds of millions of people in the developing world, where the annual consumption has risen from nine kilograms per capita in 1961-63 to around 15 kilograms.

Though the output has declined in Europe, the growth is so strong in developing countries, particularly China and India, while the global production has nearly doubled over the last 20 years.

By 2020, the demand for potato is expected to be double that of 1993.

India is the third largest producer of potatoes after China and the Russian Federation.

Though processed potatoes in India currently constitute less than 0.5 per cent of the annual production, the segment is all set to stage a `crispy revolution'.

Multinationals operating in India are now increasingly opting for indigenous processing varieties.

They are fast replacing the exotic American and European varieties of the vegetable.

Dr.Ramasamy said that in order to be competitive in the global potato trade, the country needed to accelerate the development and diffusion of suitable quality-enhancing technologies in the processing sector.

In his inaugural address, the Director, CPRI, S.K.Pandey, said that the per hectare average productivity in India was 18.5 tons as against the world average of 17 tons.

Pointing out that in the Nilgiris potato could be cultivated throughout the year, he said that the per hectare average here is 19 tons.

He said that it was the only non-cereal crop to be considered as a major food crop in the World.

The Director, Central Institute of Potato (CIP), Sri Lanka, Sarath Illangantikike, said that on account of its capabilities, India would in a matter of time become a major exporter of processed potato.

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