Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 11:
The periodical problem of shortage of potato seeds in the State could be addressed to a large extent as the Regional Potato Farm of Mao in Senapati district is planning to make available breeder seeds to potato growers in the State and beyond mostly in the North Eastern region.
Established in 1970 under a State project, the Farm spanning 1000 acre had been able to sustain supply one of the most essential and favoured food item with the North Eastern Council further boosting the venture through allocation of Rs 637.70 crore in 2002-03 and consequently enhancing in the Farm's ability to provide breeder seeds to select farmers from this year.
With an aim to highlight the Farm's growing success and spread awareness of its capability to sustain the supply chain, the NEC Cell of Directorate of Information and Public Relations today organised a press tour of the Farm site.
Interacting with the newspersons, Deputy Director of the Farm AH Suva conceded that it could not live upto the expectation of the farmers in terms of production level but affirmed that from the current year through the patronage of the NEC the Farm is in a position to provide breeder seeds in abundance as the NEC sponsored project is in its final phase.
With the Farm firmly committed to augment potato productivity and having reached the final stage expectation is to yield 40-50 metric ton of the breeder seeds, conveyed Suba who also informed that on earlier occasions such breeds are procured by farmers as well as the Farm from Shimla that consumes excess time and expenditure.
According to Agriculture Officer (Plants and Vegetables) Th Nimaichand, who was also part of the tour team, the breeding seeds had to undergo four years of trial and test before its distribution to the farmers even as a final approval is necessary with regard to the seeds immunised from plant-related diseases for which a machine would be installed in four month's time.
When queried whether the Farm is able to cope with demands of the State farmers/growers, the AO detailed that potatoes are grown in 10,000 hectares of farmland with the seasonal seed requirement standing at 30-40 metric tonnes.
He further exuded confidence that with growing practices of potato plantations in the State any deficiency of breeder seeds or its consumable production could be achieved in the near future.
Apart from taking the newspersons on a tour of the plant site and its present infrastructure it is informed that another project of about Rs 5 crore would be forwarded to the NEC for enhanced production from the Farm.