Potato in Garhwal region of Uttarakhand: some issues and suggestions

Uttarakhand agriculture is gradually diversifying towards high value food commodity for livelihood security. The paper attempts to analyse the economics of potato cultivation, factors affecting the net returns from potato, examine the production and marketing constraints and finally to suggest the strategies for better production and marketing. Off season potato (with respect to plain) with high benefit cost ratio was found to be a commercially viable enterprise in Pauri district of Garhwal region. The area is backward in terms of poor pre- and post-harvest infrastructure, low agricultural productivity and week institutional linkages. These situations do not allow the farmers to take advantage of off season market opportunities. The study finds that the potato growers are the victim of circumstances, and the contractors coming from Haldwani, Ramnagar, Rudrapur and Kotdwar markets take the undue advantage. The scenario calls for concerted efforts of public-private sectors in a partnership mode for creation of basic infrastructure facilities, and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) should act as a facilitator and extension workers need to guide the farmers for accessing both technology and credit facilities.