In India, Punjab stands amongst top potato producing state with production of 30.3 Lac tonnes in 2022 from 1.10 Lac hectares. Punjab has emerged as a centre for Potato seed production and is largely known as potato seed producing state. The seed grown in Punjab can be grown everywhere in India
Punjab potato seed is unique in the sense that it’s completely disease free. One of the reasons is Its unique agro-climate which has enabled it to evolve as the major disease-free seed producer
Potato is a vegetatively propagated crop, which is prone to degeneration over the years on account of accumulation of viruses and mycoplasmas in the tubers, leading to drastic reduction in yields over a period of 4-5 years. The ideal condition for disease free seed production requires low vector population (aphids and white flies) & such ideal conditions are provided by Punjab’s northern Doaba region (Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Nawanshahr etc), which enjoys optimal climate and soil parameters for growing healthy potato tubers with lower rates of infection.
Punjab is free from serious pathogens and pests particularly of wart disease, cyst forming nematodes, non-cyst forming nematodes, brown rot or bacterial wilt and Black scurf making it suitable for potato seed production. Other parameters like suitable physiological age, optimal dormancy of tubers & short distance transport for cold storage are additional reasons.
These unique things created tremendous opportunity to seed growers in Punjab to provide seed to rest of India which faced severe limitation of production of quality seed at places with high vector population. Since the harvesting of potato in Punjab is completed much before the planting time in the southern and eastern states of India, it ensured a good supply of seed material at their time of planting. The crop also provided an alternative to the wheat-rice cycle prevalent in the state. Amidst all these and the much-needed crop diversification in Punjab due to depleting water resources and failing monsoon, potato found a suitable abode.
Other major reason is, the seed producing technology suggested by ICAR-Central Potato research Institute was adopted with much zeal in Punjab by its progressive farmers, leading to the production of large quantities of disease-free quality seed for the rest of the country which resembled in a perpetual boom in this sector
Out of the total potato production in Punjab, 60% is as seed which is utilized for its own requirement of seed potato & for supply to other States in India. The rest is either consumed as ware or is a surplus for trade and exports.
Punjab’s success in potato seed production has not only benefited the state’s economy but has also played a crucial role in meeting the demand for disease-free potato seeds across India, showcasing the state’s significant contribution to the agricultural landscape of the country.
