For higher yield,Pune potato farmers take cue from Gujarat

“We reap around seven to eight tonnes from an acre,but in Gujarat,farmers get up to 25 tonnes per acre,” Bajare said. This has prompted many Pune farmers to initiate a tie-up with the potato research station in Gujarat to replicate their growing techniques in Pune district. Many say they will procure their seeds from Gujarat and implement these techniques in the following Kharif season in June.

This year,the Pune market had a reduced yield of edible potatoes — one of the reasons why potato was selling for Rs 25 per kg in the retail market. Another reason,farmers say,is because over the last few years most of them have shifted from edible variety of potato to the chips variety of potato. The district has around 11,000 acres under potato,but as of this year only 300 acres was under the edible variety,mostly around Khed and Rajgurunagar,said Bajare.

For farmers like Bajare,increased yield in the chips variety will mean increased income from companies. For consumers,supply of edible potatoes will automatically increase if the yields improve,farmers say.

“Around 40 farmers from Khed,Shirur,Rajgurunagar and Ambegaon talukas in Pune district had gone to Deesa from January 21 to 26. All of us want improved varieties next year,” Bajare said.

Farmers are talking about the possibility of a tie-up between the potato research station in Gujarat and the research station in Rajgurunagar,which works on potatoes,onions and garlic. “Many farmers had gone to Gujarat. Following that,we are coordinating with district farmers and mobilising potato growers in the Pune district,” said Ravindra Bhosale,district superintending agriculture officer.

“In Deesa,a 50-acre farm requires only four labourers because it is machine intensive. In Pune,we would need 50 labourers each day,” said Ganesh Daware Patil,another potato grower in Khed. “We want to spread awareness about Gujarat’s techniques in our villages. We want to create SHG groups in villages which can purchase potatoes from Gujarat to be used as seeds for Pune district,” Patil said