To boost research in potato production, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh inaugurated Potato Technology Centre at Shamgarh village (Karnal) in Nilokheri block yesterday.

The Rs1.27-crore centre set up under the state plan in spread over 45 acres.

Radha Mohan:

“I am glad to inaugurate the first Potato Technology Centre in the county, which will open new era of research in potato production. Farmers will have new varieties of potato.”

Potato production stood at 48 million tonnes from 20.8 million hectares in 2014-15, thus making India the world’s second largest producer after China, he said.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar:

“The saplings of potato would be produced through the tissue culture technique in bottles at the centre. Later, the saplings will be planted in a net house.”

He was accompanied by Haryana Agriculture Minister Om Prakash Dhankar, Minister of State (Agriculture) Bikram Singh Yadav, Hafed chairperson Harvinder Kalyan and Nilokheri MLA Bhagwan Dass Kabirpanthi.

Varinder Singh Kundu, Addition Chief Secretary, said 40 varieties of potato would be produced in the centre, including Kufri Badshah, Kufri Pukhraj, Kufri Khyati and Kufri Chipsona. “The centre will train farmers to produce better quality potato,” he informed the Union Minister and Chief Minister.