Farmers, particularly potato growers from Malerkotla and Ludhiana, have pledged to embrace scientific farming techniques and cultivate new high-yielding potato varieties to boost their economic status, address procurement issues with paddy and wheat, and strengthen the national food supply. The commitment was made during the concluding session of the Potato Growers Meet held at the E-Learning Studio, Raikot, organized by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). The event was chaired by Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor of PAU, and Dr Sat Pal Sharma, Principal Vegetable Scientist.

Highlighting the significance of the potato crop, Dr Gosal noted that Punjab ranks as the 6th largest contributor to India’s potato production, producing over 3 million tonnes annually from 1.07 lakh hectares. He emphasized Punjab’s pivotal role in supplying 90% of the country’s disease-free seed potatoes, underscoring the potato’s importance as a cash crop that enhances farm income, creates employment, and ensures food security. Dr Gosal also introduced the newly developed Punjab Potato 101 and Punjab Potato 102 varieties, tailored for Punjab’s soil and climate, and are the result of PAU’s decade-long potato breeding programme, leveraging facilities at Keylong, Himachal Pradesh, and advanced speed breeding techniques. “These methods have reduced the time for developing new varieties from a decade to just 4-5 years”, Dr Gosal informed. He further urged farmers to capitalize on PAU’s research and technical expertise, highlighting Punjab’s ideal soil and climate conditions for potato cultivation. He stressed the importance of using high-quality, genetically pure seeds, with PAU’s varieties offering high yields and catering to specific trade needs.

Dr Sat Pal Sharma, Principal Vegetable Breeder, shared the innovative processes involved in creating these varieties, emphasizing their superior traits, including white and light-yellow flesh, making them ideal for main-season cultivation.

During interactive sessions, scientists addressed concerns raised by potato growers and seed producers, providing solutions for cultivation challenges. Dr Malwinder Singh Malhi, a Member of the Global Farmer Network and PAU Advisory Committee, encouraged farmers to embrace innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence, as tools to overcome future agricultural challenges.