Diversified Utilization of Potato and Marketing Constraint Faced by Farm Women in Potato Production

The objective of this study was to Diversified Utilization of potato, and marketing constraint faced by farm women in potato production kannauj division. In India, potato is cultivated in almost all states under diverse agro-climatic conditions. About 85 percent of potatoes are cultivated in Indo-Gangetic plains of North India. The states of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab, Bihar and Gujarat accounted for more than 80 percent share in total production. Fruits and vegetables are usually more difficult to market than to produce. Perishable and bulky nature of the produce makes marketing process more difficult and vulnerable to uncertainties to a higher extent. As for as potatoes area concerned India has experienced potato revolution over last 55 years. In 1949 (when CPRI was established), India produced 1.54 million tons potato out of 0.234 million ha with an average yield of 6.58 t/ha. Based on the average of three years ranging from 1998-99 to 200-01, the country produced 23.63 million tons of potatoes from 1.29 million ha with an average yield of 18.23 t/ha showing an increase of 5.5, 15.3 and 2.8 times in area, production and yield of potato, respectively. At present India is facing a problem of plenty as far as potato is concerned. However CPRI is believed to take this production to 40 million tons by the year 2020.