Sustaining potato revolution: Demand of seed-potato in Gujarat (India)

In recent years Gujarat showed high potato growth with the help of government support, large scale adoption of micro-irrigation and high seed potato replacement. Kufri Badshah registered highest potato area (48%) followed by Kufri Lauvkar (23%), Kufri Pukhraj (18%) and other varieties (11%). Gujarat got high potato productivity (337 q/ha) by using latest potato cultivation techniques and faster seed replacement (50%). The annual total and replacement seed potato demand for Gujarat was 137148 and 68577 tonnes, respectively. The 4.5% ACGR (1998 99 to 2006 07) of potato area in Gujarat is expected to sustain over next five years. The total and replacement seed-potato demand during 2012–13 is estimated 170911 and 85459 tonnes, respectively. Only 26% replacement demand is met within state. Out of outside seed potato demand, Kufri Badshah, Kufri Lauvkar, Kufri Pukhraj and ‘other varieties‘ constitute (45%), (23%), (20%) and (12%), respectively. This huge demand opens business opportunity of producing micro-propagated healthy seed-potato in Gujarat.