Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) through the initiative of FOCUS-IFAD project organised a three-day training-cum-exposure visit of officers and farmers to Potato Technology Centre, Karnal, Haryana from December 15-17 with the support from International Potato Centre (CIP) India.
In a press release, FOCUS-IFAD project accounts officer, Vikiyeto Noel informed that during the field visit, the team held interactions with various progressive potato farmers, entrepreneurs on potato seed production of different generations G-0 to G-3 from basic seeds (minitubers) and on potato farming.
The team also visited FPO potato pack house at Chhapra, Kurukshetra and observed the process of cleaning, grating, sorting and storing of potato.
Later, the team held a session with director general, department of horticulture, government of Haryana, Dr. Arjun Singh Saini, who briefed about the Potato Technology Centre (PTC) and CIP activities of potato in Haryana.
He encouraged team members to be dedicated and innovative in order to bring changes through farming.
The team also visited breeder, foundation, certified and truthful seed production in open fields at PTC Farm, testing and multiplication of CIP bio-fortified potato varieties and CIP Variety Yusi Maap.
They visited Centre of Excellence for Vegetables Indo-Israel Project, Gharaunda, government of Haryana on protected cultivation of high-quality vegetables such as cherry tomatoes, cucumber, brinjal, chilli, capsicum and to be grown round the year in high-tech ployhouses, naturally ventilated polyhouses, walk-in tunnels with controlled climate and provisions for micro along with drip irrigation.
The FOCUS Nagaland team was guided by Dr. Mohinder Kadian and Dr. Pooja Pandey throughout the visit.
Altogether, 22 participants led by joint secretary and state project director FOCUS, S. Tainiu comprising four officials from FAO, one each from horticulture and agriculture department, one FOCUS project officer and 14 farmers from eight project implementing districts participated in the visit programme.
It may be mentioned that the main objectives of the programme were: to learn about advance cultivation practice of potato adopted in the state of Haryana; to learn about new and economic viable potato varieties best suited to the state; to familiarise with new technology i.e., Apical Rooted Cuttings (ARC) technology introduced by CIP and practice by potato farmers of Haryana and to witness the field practice of low-cost potato seeds production.