Export of potato and potato seed to Asian and European countries can be raised substantially if domestic policies were suitably amended. Indian potato exports represented a fraction of the total potential.
India was the only country in south Asia which has a potato seed production programme. Given the right incentives, the country can meet the potato seed requirement of SAARC countries estimated at around 6,16,000 tonnes a year, said Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI) director S M Paul Khurana.
CPRI organised an international seminar on processing and export of potatoes at its Modipuram (UP) centre, where potato experts from countries like Israel, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Germany, Australia and Holland participated.
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Khurana said though the Asian region alone had a potato import market of nearly 900,000 tonnes, India tapped a fraction of it, exporting just 18,000 tonnes. Thus, while India accounted for 21 per cent of potato production in Asia, its share of export market was merely two per cent.
India had some natural advantages and could capture even the European potato market. Local fresh potatoes were available in Europe only after September, but fresh potatoes were harvested in some part of India the year round. The fresh potato could be exported to Europe.
Nearly 90 per cent of the potato crop in India was bagged between January and March which was the lean season in Europe. The fresh Indian potato crop also enjoyed price advantage over potato sold in Europe because of lower production cost. This was due chiefly to shorter crop duration and lower labour costs here. Exports could therefore be done at attractive margins.
India could capture part of the potato seed market in Europe because of lower cost. Potato and potato seeds produced in India were free from dreaded diseases like wart, ring rot, black leg, nematodes, etc.
Last year, India exported about 12,500 tonnes of seed annually to 23 countries. Around 85 per cent of this went to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The other regular importers of potato seed from India included Vietnam, UAE, Singapore, Maldives and Nepal.
Khurana wanted the government to come out with a potato export policy. Incentives for producers growing potato for export should be considered as well.
Infrastructure like refrigerated transportation and storage at exporting ports would have to be created. Potato seed exports would require creation of internationally recognised agencies for certification of freedom from diseases.