Farmers, officials from McCain Food India engage in a comprehensive training program at Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI) to boost potato production and processing.
A recent training session conducted at the Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI) focused on equipping farmers engaged in potato contract farming in Punjab and Gujarat with the necessary knowledge and skills to enhance potato cultivation practices. The training also included officials from McCain Food India, a prominent company specializing in potato processing.
The growing trend of potato processing in India, witnessing a yearly increase of 10%, has positioned the country’s potato products in high demand markets such as Dubai, Qatar, and Malaysia. Farmers stand to benefit from cultivating varieties like Kufri Chipsona-1, Kufri Chipsona-2, and Kufri Friesona, which are particularly sought after for processing purposes. Brajesh Singh, the institute’s director, highlighted these opportunities during the training session.
Participants received valuable insights into accessing suitable potato seed varieties for processing and adopting techniques to optimize production levels. Brajesh Singh emphasized that CPRI has contributed significantly to the development of 90% of the potato varieties in India, a process that typically spans 10 to 12 years. India’s remarkable progress in potato production has elevated it to the second position globally, underscoring CPRI’s success in developing disease-resistant and nutritious potato strains.
Dr. Alok Kumar, along with experts Dr. Ping Vyang, Dr. Shailesh Sood, Dr. Sanjeev Sharma, Dr. Ashwani Sharma, and Dr. Vinod Kumar, conducted informative sessions during the training program. Participants also had the opportunity to visit the Kufri and Fagu farms at CPRI, gaining practical insights into potato cultivation techniques and research advancements.
I am doing PhD in potato seed tuber . I would like join training.