1Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla-171001, HP.
2Central Potato Research Institute Campus, Modipuram-250110, Meerut, UP.
The study, with a view to explore the problems faced by potato growers of West Bengal, was conducted in 6 blocks of Hooghly and Burdwan districts during 2002–03. It was found that the growers faced problems related to both production as well as marketing. The major problems identified were lack of availability of sufficient good quality seed well in time, irrigation problem, non-availability of sufficient finance, unremunerative market price for the produce, lack of sufficient storage space and malpractices exercised by traders. The study suggests to supply sufficient seed by Government agencies, establish more cold stores, restraining the cold store owners from indUlging corrupt practices, ensuring producers to get proper share in consumer's rupee, imparting training to the potato growers regarding scientific potato production and arrangement for exporting the potato to neighbouring countries.
