Author(s):

Pynbianglang Kharumnuid, NK Pandey, Loukham Devarani, Jitendra Kumar Chauhan, Ram Singh, Bapi Das and Ereneus K Marbaniang

Abstract: India is predominantly an agriculture-based country in which agriculture and allied activities contribute about 17% to the country’s GVA and provide employment to about 55% of the population. Unfortunately, majority of the farming communities in the country still living a hard life and get very less remuneration for their hard work. After independence, the policies for agricultural development mainly focussed on increasing agricultural production and ensuring food security. However, the strategies for raising the income of farmers had not been given much emphasis by the policy makers and the government. The Government of India had set a policy target of doubling farmers’ income by 2022. Potato is the third most important food crop, after rice and wheat. It provides more food, more calories in a shorter period and lesser land area than many other main crops. It is a highly nutritious crop, containing carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, proteins and high-quality dietary fibre, thus will play a significant role in food and nutrition security for the ever-increasing Indian population. The demand of potato and its products is rising at a faster rate. It has a very high potential in doubling farmers’ income as it could be used for table purpose (as vegetables), seed purpose and processing purpose. The farmers’ income could be doubled by increasing the potato productivity, decreasing the cost of cultivation, ensuring remunerative price for the produce and reducing the harvest and post-harvest losses through various strategies and practices.

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