'India's share in global potato trade is 0.5 percent'

India may be the third largest potato producer in the world but its contribution to global potato trade is merely half a percent, industry officials and experts participating in the Global Potato Conference said here Thursday.

'India has the required production technologies and the produce is free from major diseases, which provide significant opportunity for export of potato products,' said Mangala Rai, secretary at the Department of Agricultural Research and Education.

India is the third largest potato producer in the world with an annual yield of around 26 million tonnes. This is of more concern for India as it has drastically failed to export its potato produce.

'This conference would help us achieve more exports,' a senior official at the agriculture ministry said.

The Shimla-based Indian Potato Association, along with the Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research is celebrating the international year of the Potato by organising the conference Dec 9-12.

More than 400 scientists, trade and industry personnel and policy makers from the US, Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Japan, and many Asian countries are attending the conference.