The State Government has set a target to enhance cold storage capacity by another one lakh metric tonne (MT) by March next year.Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan has asked the concerned authorities to initiate steps in this regard.
Chairing the second meeting of the State-level Steering Committee (SlSC) of the State Potato Mission, Balakrishnan strongly felt that this way the State Government will help out the farmers, who want more space in cold storages. Agriculture and Cooperation Principal Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Principal Secretary, Energy, Rajesh Verma, Horticulture Director Srikanta Prusty and other senior officials were present.
Potato storage capacity in cold stores was enhanced from 1.30 lakh MT to 1.65 lakh MT, sources said.
Another 1lakh MT cold storage capacity will be created by March 31, 2017.
Keeping in view the cold store capacity to be created this year, 25,000 hectare will be covered in potato cultivation. Farmer registration is on and more farmers will be registered.
Potato seed arrangement is being done to start crop in 1,000 hectares in Kharif. The OUAT will issue crop advisory for the farmers.
It was decided in the meeting that the Director Horticulture would arrange potato seed, subsidy and training of farmers, which would help them out to get more income.
Ahuja explained the objective of the mission. Buffer stock arrangement would be planned by the MARKFED to contain shortage, he said.
The OUAT would go in for extensive research to have more yields. The university would also do front line demonstration in field to educate farmers.
The SlSC meeting decided to go in for massive seed production in the State. While the target for coverage was 20,000 HA during 2015-16, it has been reported that the coverage went up to 22,983 HA.