Odisha signs MOU with Utkal Tubers India for seed potato production

The Odisha State Government on Wednesday signed an MoU with Utkal Tubers India Pvt Ltd to produce quality potato seeds.

The agreement is aimed at bridging the current demand and supply gap.

Susant Nanda, Horticultural Director:

"This is a unique initiative as the company would set up a tissue culture laboratory at Deras near Khurda."

"The laboratory will produce over one lakh metric tonne of potato seeds, which will cater to the demand of Odisha and other eastern states, by 2020-21."

The company would also set up a seed multiplication centre on 40 acres of land at Similiguda in Koraput.

"The firm will establish the required infrastructure. The government is not required to invest anything," Nanda added.

The state requires around one lakh metric tonne of potato seeds a year. At present, these are being produced in limited quantity. To meet the demand, large quantities of potato seeds are being procured from Punjab, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh

"Though National Seed Corporation sends us seeds, they are not suitable for Odisha's weather conditions and a large amount of these are damaged during transportation," an officer in horticulture directorate said.

In 2014, the government had signed similar agreements with National Seed Corporation, International Potato Centre and Lima in Peru. Besides, Potato Mission was launched last year to tackle the crisis, but nothing much has changed on the ground.