Potato and rural prosperity in garhwal region of Uttrakhand: Need for institutional intervention

The agriculture in Uttarakhand is gradually diversifying towards highvalue food commodities and potato has emerged as a viable commercial enterprise in the Pauri distict of Garhwal region in the state. Two belts, viz. Kaproli (comprising villages of Kaproli, Jalu and Mushati) and Salon Khal (comprising villages of Salon Khal, Tripalisain, Sothi and Behro Khal) have been identified for potato production. The paper has analysed the economics of potato cultivation, examined the production and marketing constraints and suggested strategies for the effective production practices and marketing management. The base line survey (2006–07) has shown that the target area is backward from several considerations, viz. traditional and dryland agriculture, low productivity, and negligible marketable surplus in the case of cereals and pulses. Under such a situation, potato production which fits well into the multi-cropping systems is the only ray of hope for their livelihood security. The results have revealed that the net returns per hectare are higher in potato than other crops grown in the area. The prevailing marketing constraints such as lack of vegetable mandi within 200-km radius, poor post-harvest infrastructure, and lack of transportation and communication facilities do not allow the farmers to take advantage of the emerging opportunities. In the absence of sound financial position and poor credit accessibility, the potato growers become victim of local contractors, who come from Haldawani, Ramnagar, Rudharpur and Kotdwar, covering a distance of 200–250 km. The average per kg price received by the farmers at farm gate has been found to be Rs 7 to Rs 8 during the months of July and August when the average per kg wholesale price ranges from Rs 13 to Rs 15. The scenario calls for concerted efforts for establishing public-private partnership for creating basic infrastructure facilities. The study has suggested that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) should act as facilitators and extension workers for accessing both technology and credit facilities so as to capture national and international markets.