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This year, approximately, 1.56 lakh tonnes
of potato seeds were sown in Gujarat. The
market expects potato production of 13.40
lakh tonnes. In Gujarat, the maximum yield
is expected from areas like Disa, Palanpur
and Siddhpur. Other areas are Kheda,
Vadodara, Chhani, Ladol, Vijapur, Mansa,
Dehgam, Sabarkhanta, Jamnagar and
Khambhaliya. Again, this time around
production glut will not be an issue with
the farmers as there is a 5-7% growth in
demand.
Moreover, farmers also gain from the food
processing companies, where they are able to
get better prices for their produce. On the
export front, it would see further rise as
it is expected that this year exports would
touch 6,500 tonnes. Last year, potato
exports from Gujarat stood at 5,000 tonnes.
Traditionally, the export market for the
Gujarat’s potato was mostly the Indian Ocean
countries. Now, the traders are looking to
export to new countries like Malaysia ,
Singapore, Sri Lanka and Gulf nations.
Top
potato consumers, 2005
|
|
Quantity (t) |
|
Kg per
capita |
|
1. China |
47 594 193 |
1. Belarus |
181 |
|
2. Russian
Fed. |
18 828 000 |
2.
Kyrgyzstan |
143 |
|
3. India |
17 380 730 |
3. Ukraine |
136 |
|
4. United
States |
17 105 000 |
4. Russian
Fed. |
131 |
|
5. Ukraine |
6 380 850 |
5. Poland |
131 |
|
6. United
Kingdom |
6 169 000 |
6. Rwanda |
125 |
|
7. Germany |
5 572 000 |
7. Lithuania |
116 |
|
8. Poland |
5 000 000 |
8. Latvia |
114 |
|
9.
Bangladesh |
4 041 463 |
9.
Kazakhstan |
103 |
|
10. Iran
(Islamic
Rep.) |
3 991 142 |
10. United
Kingdom |
102 |
|
Source: |
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