A New Era for Potato Farming in North India
In a significant move to boost agricultural infrastructure, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu has announced plans to establish a state-of-the-art potato processing plant in Una district. The Rs 20 crore facility, designed with a processing capacity of 500 kg per hour, aims to revolutionize potato farming in the region and benefit growers from both Himachal Pradesh and neighboring Punjab.
Una district, producing approximately 54,200 metric tons of potatoes from 3,400 hectares, presents an ideal location for this initiative. The plant will primarily focus on producing potato flakes, offering farmers a reliable market for their produce and protection against price fluctuations. Agriculture contributes 14% to Himachal Pradesh’s Gross State Domestic Product, with potato being a key crop. The state’s total potato production stands at 238,317 metric tons across 16,960 hectares, highlighting its significant role in the agricultural economy.
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From Farm to Factory: A Value Addition Revolution
The processing plant will transform raw potatoes into value-added products, particularly potato flakes, through a sophisticated process of cooking, mashing, and drying potatoes to create dehydrated chunks. This innovation caters to the growing demand in India’s food processing sector and provides farmers with year-round demand for their produce.
The state’s rich potato cultivation history is particularly notable in the Lahaul Valley, dating back to 1854 when missionary A.W. Hide from Germany established a farm near Keylong. The region has since become renowned for producing virus-free seed potatoes, which are highly sought after in states like West Bengal, Bihar, and Karnataka. Beyond Una district, table potato cultivation flourishes in Bilaspur, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, Solan, and Kullu districts.
The initiative promises substantial economic advantages through the creation of direct employment opportunities, enhanced income for potato farmers, development of allied agricultural sectors, and stabilization of potato markets in the region. The plant’s strategic location and focus on value-added products position it as a crucial infrastructure asset for North India’s potato farming community.
Vegetable production in Himachal Pradesh generates revenue of Rs 3,500-Rs 4,000 crore annually and has emerged as an alternate economic activity in the agriculture sector. The returns on off-season vegetable cultivation are particularly high compared to traditional food crops, making this processing plant a timely addition to the state’s agricultural infrastructure.
