Odisha approves major potato project with the International Potato Center to achieve self-sufficiency

The Odisha Government has decided to approve a major project with the International Potato Centre (CIP) focused on sustainable intensification of potato cultivation in order to achieve self-sufficiency in production in this Indian State.

Accordingly, the State Level Project Screening Committee (SLPSC) under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojana (RKVY) has approved a project proposal with an investment of over Rs 34 crore (USD 5 million)

Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) Gagan Kumar Dhal chaired a meeting of the SLPSC here to approve the project for identification of new areas for potato cultivation and introduction of new varieties of seeds in the State.

In fact, the SLPSC has cleared several project proposals under RKVY, which will be implemented in the agriculture and allied sector.

The project will be implemented in five years with a budget amount of Rs 34.63 crore, which will be implemented by the CIP in collaboration with Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) and Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI).

The CIP is an international organisation, which is helping out several other States to achieve self sufficiency in potato production.

The State Government has made a pact with the CIP for such an initiative. Under the project, identification of new areas of potato cultivation, introduction of at least seven varieties seed and three elite hybrids and conducting of over 700 demonstrations across the State will be taken up.