Product Concept

Service oriented project for cultivation and storage of potato.

Product description

The following constraints are being faced by potato cultivators, processors and those engaged in potato storage (cold storage owners) in GUJARAT.
Availability of quality seed and required varieties. Seed is brought from Punjab and prices are high and quality uncertain. Certified seeds are not available.
Package of agronomical practices suited to a particular variety not available thereby limiting yield and profitability.
Cold storage owners storing at 2-40C thereby incurring high energy costs. Even then potato turn sweet, due to increase in reducing sugar making it unfit for processing and even consumers reject it.
Processors do not get processable varieties as same are not cultivated in GUJARAT. and further storage technology is not up-to date to keep the quality of processable potatoes intact and round the year availability.

Capacity

Contract cultivation in 500 hectares, see supply in entire region and CIPC treatment

Markets

Potato processing units in GUJARAT., MP, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. Value addition for household consumption.

Suggested location

Deesa or Kheda

Raw material availability

The required equipment and facilities of training of the professional staff available in India.

Concept of Potato service center

To make required interventions to overcome the Above said difficulties. The CENTER should have the following facilities/ability to provide services.
Arrange certified seed suited to local conditions.
Provide technical know how and assistance in procurement of quality and certified inputs.
Pre and post harvest management practices.
Market linkages particularly with processors.
Organising contract farming for the specific requirements of processors.
Promotion of use of CIPC(Sprout inhibitor) among the cold storages in the area.
Arrangement for Analytical Laboratory.

Technical know-how

Equipment available in India. Chemical will need to import.

Special features of project

Technical services and use of modern technology for potato which is a key crop for GUJARAT.

Investment

Investment of about Rs.70 lakhs in building Communication, transport, laboratory and CIPC equipment. A cold storage can be setup later.

Strengths of GUJARAT.

Two pockets namely Deesa and Kheda known for cultivation of potatoes.
GUJARAT. has been identified only place in the country agronomical suited for cultivation of potatoes with high TSS and low reducing sugar which are required by the potato processing industry.
A good network of cold storages.
Good opportunities for exports due to proximity to ports and well developed export infrastructure

Others

A team of 3-4 Agri Graduates/post graduates would be ideal to run the center.

Other Benefits

CIPC treated potatoes would be preferred in export and domestic market. Potato CENTER could even undertake export of potatoes.