In India, in Northern parts of West Bengal and Bihar markets potato farmers had a long awaited demand for an early bulking variety along with better storability to cater to the evolving grower needs.
Until now, absence of such a variety with this unique combination had left farmers either to miss the early market opportunity to reap better prices or book higher losses during storage.
Soundararadjane, S. CEO of Technico:
“Our alliances with Global breeders, has enabled us with large Germplasm Bank and we run an exhaustive Varietal Evaluation Program in the Country, across micro-climatic regions to help identify and evaluate varieties to match potato growers evolving needs, across segments such as Table, Crisp, French Fry segments.”
The key benefits “Red Candy” offers to Table Potato growers include:
- High Yielder: 38 – 42 MT / Ha in 90-100 days, increases yield per unit of land and hence reduces cost of production to the growers
- Uniform Tuber: Tubers of the variety are red skin, creamy flesh, oval in shape, medium size and consistent shape
- Better Storability: Best in the segment with lower storage loss
- Low Sugar development: Low starch to sugar conversion rate under cold storage conditions and better mash quality
Surajit Das, a Red Candy grower from Uttar Dinajpur, West Bengal states:
“I have grown Red Candy in an acre and got yield of 16.5 MT/ Acre at harvest of 90 days. Its tubers were uniform in shape & size and attractive shiny red skin attracted buyers in the market. Red Candy is an early bulker which helped me timely harvesting.”