There was a need to constitute a potato promotion board at the central level in order to look into various issues beginning from cultivation to consumption of the tuber in the country. The matter was discussed at the annual meeting of the Federation of Cold Storage Associations of India (FCAOI) in Delhi on Monday, according to Mr Patit Paban De, Member, West Bengal Cold Storage Association.
The potato board, once constituted, would have members of the cold storages and people at the ministerial level in order to look into the key issues confronting the potato industry in the country. “There is an urgent need to look into cultivation and marketing issues and this board, we feel, will take care of that. There are some years, like this year, when there is bumper production but due to poor marketing skills we are unable to ensure proper consumption of the tuber,” Mr De, who was a part of the Federation meeting, told Business Line.
There was also a need to ensure full capacity utilisation of cold storages across the country. “It is not only essential to improve the capacity of cold storages but is also important to ensure maximum utilisation of the potatoes stored there in order to make it economically viable,” he pointed out.
The potato board, once constituted, would have members of the cold storages and people at the ministerial level in order to look into the key issues confronting the potato industry in the country. “There is an urgent need to look into cultivation and marketing issues and this board, we feel, will take care of that. There are some years, like this year, when there is bumper production but due to poor marketing skills we are unable to ensure proper consumption of the tuber,” Mr De, who was a part of the Federation meeting, told Business Line.
There was also a need to ensure full capacity utilisation of cold storages across the country. “It is not only essential to improve the capacity of cold storages but is also important to ensure maximum utilisation of the potatoes stored there in order to make it economically viable,” he pointed out.
