India’s potato output is estimated to rise 15.38 per cent in 2008 owing to the favourable climatic conditions. The total output of the so far evergreen vegetable is likely to rise over 30 million tonnes in 2008 compared to over 26 million tonnes in 2007.
The growth in output is significant as Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of United Nation is considering potato as the next staple food for the masses especially for people in Africa and Asia.
India ranks fourth in coverage and third in global potato production. It produces around 8 per cent of the world’s produce. Between 1960 and 2000, potato production rose almost 850 per cent, partly in response to the growing demand from higher-income urban populations. Since 1990, per capita consumption has risen from around 12 kg to 17 kg a year.
According to the latest report by Religare Commodities, the area under potato this year has risen from 1.719 million hectares (ha) in 2008 compared to 1.570 million ha during the previous year.
With production spread widely, and sown and harvested throughout the year, potato is largely a scattered commodity which is largely produced and consumed by small farmers inhouse. A majority of farmers sow potato after harvesting early paddy crop.
Therefore, the potato crop is spread throughout the rabi and kharif season contributing in the proportion of 15:1. Kharif crops are grown mainly in Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uttaranchal while rabi crops are harvested in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh among others.
Potato requires adequate, but not excess moisture in the soil from when it is planted till flowering. But, excess moisture spoils seeds. The best suiting condition for potato farming is intermittent rains, but not waterlogging in the field.
Uttar Pradesh continues to remain the largest producer of potatoes with 9.821 million tonnes Produced in 2004 - 05 from an area of 0.440 million ha. The state is set to produce over 11.800 million tonnes in 2008 in an acreage area of 0.545 million ha with an average yield of 21.67 kgs. The other major producers are West Bengal, Bihar, Punjab, MP, Gujarat and Assam.
With the phenomenal increase in potato production in the last 10 years, recurring gluts have become common in the country. Prices crash dramatically during the harvesting months leading to panic sales by farmers, and in turn leading to heavy monetary losses. Sometimes, farmers are unable to even cover their cost of production.
The states of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Bihar accounting for more than 75 percent of area under cultivation and about 80 percent of total production. The country exports about 100,000 tonnes of potato every year.
