Lucknow, Apr 9 (UNI) The Uttar Pradesh government has launched a strategic initiative to further elevate the status of potato crop by setting up an International Potato Research Centre in Agra and upcoming Centres of Excellence in Saharanpur and Kushinagar, official sources said here on Wednesday
Sources said that UP leads the country in potato production, contributing over 35 percent to India's total yield. "The state's productivity is also higher than the national average, which ranges between 23 to 25 tonnes per hectare and there is strong potential for further improvement. However, a key challenge remains which is the lack of region-specific research and innovation tailored to the agro-climatic conditions of UP. Even the available research often fails to reach farmers in a timely and effective manner," they said.
Sources swaid that the National Potato Research Centre is located in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, with only two regional centres in Meerut and Patna. "As a result, the transfer of research from lab to land is slow and limited. Besides, farmers frequently face a shortage of high-quality seed varieties during the sowing season, forcing them to reuse stored potatoes kept in cold storage facilities each year," they said.