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Potato brings smiles to Doaba
farmers
WSN Network
JALANDHAR: This
year-end, potatoes will bring smiles to the farmers of Doaba.
Equipped with EurepGAP (Good Agriculture Practices) certificates
after two years of hard toil, 55 farmers here are preparing to
cultivate a crop that targets European market alone.
“Each of these
55 farmers is dedicating 30 acres for export purposes. A total of
10,000 MT potatoes would be exported in association with Markfed,”
said Jaswinder Singh Sangha, general secretary of Jalandhar Potato
Growers Association. After two years of exports to Europe,
he added, farmers would be entitled to export other vegetables too,
provided they maintain similar agricultural practices.
Despite the
growers here producing high-quality potato seed, the markets in
Europe have remained out of bounds for them — for want of EuropGAP
certification. According to Sangha, Markfed, which joined hands with
farmers, would market the produce abroad. “The confederation (Markfed)
and farmers have been working on it for the last five years. Now, an
agreement has also been signed,” he added. Potato exports during
winter months would definitely fetch the farmers better prices —
four times higher than they get here. “We will produce more than the
pegged quantity of 10,000 MT and only the best (crop) would be
exported,” said Pawanjot Singh, another prominent potato grower from
the region. “We are also working on the pack-size suitable for
European markets.” Association president Raghbir Singh is already
thinking big. “Together with Markfed, we are looking to enrol
additional 150 members for EuropGAP certification. In the next two
years, we hope to touch the 1,00,000 MT figure,” he informed.
12 September 2007
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