Inauguration of Potato Technology Centre by Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister in Shaamgarh, Karnal.

Inauguration of Potato Technology Centre by Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister in Shaamgarh, Karnal.

Foundation laying ceremony of Haryana State University of Horticulture Sciences, Anjanithal, Karnal – A long pending demand of the people of the region fulfilled.

In a first phase of his visit to Haryana, Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Shri Radha Mohan Singh inaugurated the Centre of Excellence (CoE) meant for fruits farming under Indo-Israel project at Ladwa, Kurukshetra. In the function he was also accompanied by Agriculture and Rural Development Minister of Israel Mr. M.K. Yuri Ariel, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister extended his hearty thanks to the Government of Israel for providing requisite technical assistance. He said that the Government of Haryana and State Horticulture Mission has taken a lot of pain for establishment of the centre and for this tremendous task they deserve hearty congratulations. Chief Minister of Haryana Shri Manohar Lal Khattar was also present in the programme.

            Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister added that this centre of excellence in Ladwa will play an important role to this direction. With the establishment of this centre the quality of the fruits will be increased simultaneously, their will be a golden opportunity for the outlet of these fruits in Delhi as centre is near to national capital.

Spread over 12 hectare land, the centre of excellence will play an important role to promote the farming of high pricing fruits. It will come to the fore as an alternative of wheat and rice. The fruits of high species will be yielded in the centre with the help of sophisticated technological methods.

Thereafter Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Shri Radha Mohan Singh headed for Shaamgarh, Karnal and inaugurated Potato Technology Centre. He further said that 48.0 million tones potatoes have been produced on 20.8 million hectare area during 2014-2015 consequent upon India has become 2nd largest potato producing country in the world after China.

Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Shri Radha Mohan Singh reached Ajanthali, Karnal on the third phase of his visit today to Haryana where he participated in Foundation laying ceremony of State Horticulture Sciences University. At this programme, Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister said that a long pending demand of people of this region to have a Horticulture Sciences University has been fulfilled.  This university will play an important role in teaching and research related to Horticulture. The youth will be made aware of technology which will propagate the horticulture related education.

Shri Singh was accompanied by the Chief Minister of Haryana Shri Manohar Lal Khattar, Agriculture Minister of the State Shri Om Prakash Dhankar and other dignitaries.

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Establishment of First Horticulture University in Haryana at Karnal will fulfill the long pending need of the people of the State- Shri Radha Mohan Singh

University is expected to help in improving productivity levels and to adopt appropriate crop diversification to suit the agro climatic conditions of the region- Shri Singh

Foundation Stone laying Ceremony of Haryana State University of Horticultural Sciences, Karnal

            Union Agriculture and farmers Welfare Minister, Shri Radha Mohan Singh today laid the Foundation stone of Haryana State University of Horticultural Sciences  at Karnal, Haryana. On the occasion Shri Singh said that the establishment of first Horticulture University in Haryana will fulfill the long pending need of the people of the State. A full fledged horticultural university will cater the needs to support the gap between teaching, research and extension activities in the state and will establish the convergence and synergy to disseminate latest technology and horticulture education to our young generation, besides identifying strategies for further development.

Shri Singh said that on the Horticulture development, Haryana holds tremendous potential on account of its fertile lands, favorable climate and water resources. Farmers in Haryana have also started taking up horticulture crops as a separate viable economic activity.  Haryana has made a vision to make Modern Fruit and Vegetable Cultivation State and to give a boost to the growth of horticulture and also creation of market and post harvest infrastructure. Agriculture Minister expect that this shall also demonstrate significant improvement in production and productivity of horticultural crops to double the income of the farmers, and help in achieving self-sufficiency. This university is expected to help in improving productivity levels and to adopt appropriate crop diversification to suit the agro climatic conditions of the region.

Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister said that Haryana is leader in adopting Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture programme and giving priority for protected cultivation and post Harvest management. The State leap forwarded to increase area under horticultural crops from 2.0 lakh hectare in the year 2002-03 to 4.5 lakh hectare during 2013-14 and production increases from 2.51 million tonnes to 6.30 millin tonnes during same period. State has planned to increase the area to 9.0 lakh hectare with production to 27 million tonnes in next decade.

Shri Singh said that this University will also act as a skill development centre to cater the larger demand for trained manpower in the production, post harvest and processing industries. There is a huge scope for agro-processing industries like mango, citrus, aonla, strawberry in fruits and pea, tomato, potato, carrots, garlic, onion in vegetables and mushroom. Shri Singh further said that due to its proximity to major markets like Delhi and tri-city of Chandigarh it offers an excellent marketing and export channels.

Shri Singh hope that the region and crop specific research & extension activities in Horticulture University will not only boost farmers of Haryana in horticulture production and productivity but will make our nation more nutritionally secure.

On the occasion, Chief Minister of Haryana, Agriculture Minister of Haryana, Minister of State for Agriculture Haryana, M.P. and MLA were also present.

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Production of disease free quality planting material is a major constrain in potato cultivation and country needs large quantity of good quality potato seed- Shri Radha Mohan Singh

At present level of farm management practices we are actually able to harvest only 60.8% of the achievable yield- Shri Singh

Production of Potato is 48.0 million tonnes from an area of 20.8 million ha during 2014-15

India the second largest potato producer in the world after China

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister, Shri Radha Mohan Singh today inaugurate Potato Technology Center, Shamgarh ,Karnal, Haryana. On the occasion the Minister said that production of disease free quality planting material is a major constrain in potato cultivation and country needs large quantity of good quality potato seed. Presently, new techniques have been standardized especially for production of micro tubers through tissue culture techniques to cater to the need of seed potato.The opening of ‘Potato Technology Centre’ at Karnal will not only come in a big way to cater to the demand of large quantity of disease free planting material at a time but will also help in introduction of new varieties. It will certainly boost production and productivity of farmers and processing industries of Haryana as well as neighboring states.

Shri Singh said that in our daily life we eat potatoes almost every day and have been used as food for more than 10000 years. Potato in India has still to transform from simply a vegetable supplement to serious food security option. Ability of potato to produce highest nutrition and dry matter on per unit area and time basis, among major food crops, it is the crop to address future global food security and poverty alleviation.

Agriculture Minister said that as we know, potatoes are rich in protein and vitamin B group with high content which can help to enhance the physical conditions and improve the memory ability and clear thoughts. As a result, to eat potatoes regularly not only makes us healthy, but also make us maintain young and smart.

Shri Singh informed that the current share of potato to agricultural GDP is 2.86% from 1.32% cultivable area. On the contrary, the two principal food crops, rice and wheat, contribute 18.25% and 8.22% of agricultural GDP, respectively from 31.19 and 20.56% cultivable area, respectively (FAOSTAT). It indicated that contribution of potato in agricultural GDP from unit area of cultivable land is about 3.7 times higher than rice and 5.4 times higher than wheat

Shri Singh further said that rising number of working couples, rapid rate of urbanization, enhanced tendency of eating out of home, higher disposable income levels of people and important place of potato in fast food items, create an ideal situation for enormous expansion of potato consumption in the near and distant future. Estimated domestic demand of potatoes in India is 55 million t during 2025 and 122 million t during 2050. Demand for processing quality potatoes will increase from current level of 2.7 million t to 6 and 25 million t in the year 2025 and 2050, respectively. On similar lines, the food demand for fresh potatoes will increase from the current 24 million t to 38 and 78 million t during 2025 and 2050. Although, the demand for potato seed will grow nearly 2.1 time (2.96 to 6.1 million t) by the year 2050, yet, highly concerted efforts needs to be directed towards providing desirable quality seed potatoes to all farmers at remunerative prices.

Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister said that at present level of farm management practices we are actually able to harvest only 60.8% of the achievable yield. However, there is enhanced emphasis on efficient dissemination of farm technologies and consequent improvement in farm management practices in the country, it is estimated that we would be able to harvest 80% of achievable yield

Shri Singh said that potato is always the front-runner when we take processing of agri-commodities into consideration. Analysis of past experience and pattern of Indian processing industry suggests that demand for processing quality potatoes over next 40 years will rise at the fastest pace for French fries (11.6%) followed by potato flakes/ powder (7.6%) and potato chips (4.5%). The actual demand for processing potatoes will rise from 2.8 million tonnes in 2010 to 25 million tonnes during the year 2050. At present, production of Potato is 48.0 million tonnes from an area of 20.8 million ha during 2014-15, thus making India the second largest potato producer in the world after China.

On the occasion, Chief Minister of Haryana, Agriculture Minister of Haryana, Minister of State for Agriculture Haryana, M.P. and MLA were also present.

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Ladwa Centre play a pivotal role in promoting cultivation of high value fruits, as viable option to wheat – rice cycle- Shri Singh

Human Resource Development is another area of high importance bearing significance to the Indo- Israeli collaboration- Shri Singh

Inauguration of Centre of Excellence for Fruits under

Indo-Israel Work Plan

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister, Shri Radha Mohan Singh today on the occasion of inauguration of Centre of Excellence (CoE) for fruits, Ladwa, Haryana under Indo-Israel work plan, said that the centre is an outcome of the MOU signed between the two countries in May, 2006. Shri Singh thanks the Israeli Government for their technical support in commissioning the project. Shri Uri Ariel, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Israel was also present on the occasion and inaugurate the Centre of Excellence. On the occasion, Chief Minister of Haryana, Agriculture Minister of Haryana, Minister of State for Agriculture Haryana, M.P. and MLA were also present.

Shri Singh said that the Work Plan was visualized to avail the latest technological expertise of Israel to accelerate the growth of Indian Agriculture.  In this context, Israel’s technical competence in the area of water management and protected cultivation is well known world over.  

            Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister said that fruits and vegetables occupy a prime place in Indian horticulture. Most of these crops are being produced by the small and marginal farmers by using conventional methods, resulting in low productivity.   However, with the development of protected cultivation and use of quality planting material there is a tremendous scope to enhance yield as well as quality for fetching good market price by the farmers.   In this context, the CoE at Ladwa assumes high significance, not only due to the fact that the focus is on fruits but also due to its proximity to Delhi, a high fruits consumption centre. The CoE, Ladwa spread over an area of 12 ha shall play a pivotal role in promoting cultivation of high value fruits, as viable option to wheat – rice cycle.

Shri Singh said that the major interventions of the Centre are focused for introduction of improved varieties/cultivation, demonstration of modern production and post harvest technologies and develop human resource & capacity building.

            Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister said that the Government of India has provided high priority for the successful implementation of the Indo-Israel collaborative projects.  Human Resource Development is another area of high importance bearing significance to the Indo- Israeli collaboration.   Many Officers and field functionaries have had the opportunity to visit Israel to gain firsthand knowledge and training on different aspects of horticulture.  While their experience is being gainfully utilized in India, there is a need to strengthen the calibre and skills of the Indian personnel deployed in the development of horticulture through the National Horticulture Mission.  The Centres of Excellence being set up should, therefore, play an effective role in disseminating the technology through training and demonstrations. So far, 26 Centre of Excellences have been sanctioned by MIDH under Indo – Israel Action Plan out of which 10 Centre of Excellences have already been completed during first two phases and commissioned for transfer of technology.

Shri Singh said that it may not be out of place to mention that despite best efforts, there has been some delay in commissioning the projects, which were targeted to be completed during the period 2012 to 2015, as envisaged in the Indo - Israel Action Plan.  

           

Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister said that while the hardware is being developed it is equally essential to ensure the development of trained manpower and availability of quality planting material suitable to the local agro climatic conditions. Agriculture minister said that with the support of the Israeli Government, these collaborative projects would result in the procurement and multiplication of some of the elite planting material for fruits along with transfer of technology on the package of practices.