Potato Mission to get rebirth, Odisha government outlines new plan.
In an effort to reduce dependence on other states for potato supply and address issues of market scarcity and high prices, the Odisha government has initiated steps to revive the State Potato Mission. The aim is to achieve self-sufficiency in potato production within the state.
As a first step, the state government has directed the Odisha State Seeds Corporation (OSSC) to procure 1.87 lakh quintals of certified potato seeds. The corporation has already placed orders with reputed traders in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh for 1.77 lakh quintals of seeds. The Horticulture director personally visited these states to verify the quality of the seeds to be supplied by the selected traders.
It was announced that 1.77 lakh quintals of potato seeds have been positioned in different districts, with supply scheduled to begin from October 14. The government plans to cultivate potatoes on 14,423 hectares during the rabi season, with intentions to expand to more areas after constructing cold storage facilities in all sub-divisions.
A government official stated, “Steps are being taken to fulfil the commitment of constructing 58 cold storages in an equal number of sub-divisions.”
The previous iteration of the Potato Mission, launched in 2014-15, faced challenges due to various factors, including a lack of incentives for farmers and insufficient cold storage facilities. A task force had recommended providing incentives to farmers for cultivating potatoes in cluster areas, with a proposed increase from 5,000 ha in 2014-15 to 20,000 ha in 2017-18. However, the mission struggled to gain traction as farmers were hesitant to engage in commercial potato production without adequate cold storage infrastructure.
The government also mentioned the decision to provide free fortified rice until 2028, stating that eligible individuals not covered under the National Food Security Act will receive free rice from the state government. It was added that the e-KYC verification process for ration cards in circulation would take an additional 10 to 15 days to complete.
