Farmers of Dangwar and Dumarhatha village of Hussainabad block in Palamu district have cultivated sugar free potatoes and chips. The farmers planted the Kufri Chipsona-3 of the Chipsona variety, which makes sugar-free potatoes. More than half a dozen farmers of both the villages collectively planted sugar free potatoes of Chipsona varieties.
After inspiration and guidance from the Agricultural Research Center located in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, the farmers of Palamu under the banner of Bir Kunwar Singh Krishak Sewa Cooperative Society Limited, Dumrhatha, sought seeds from Kufri branch of Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla to cultivate make sugar free potato after that they started its cultivation.
Sona fry of potato has been cultivated in Dangwar, Dumarhatha, Kajrat Nawadih, Ekouni villages, while Chipsona has been cultivated in Dangwar and Dumarhatha. Sugar free potato cultivation is also being done in Uchari village of Garhwa district. In Dangwar and Dumarhatha, sugar-free potato cultivation is being done for the last two years, but for the first time, potato chips making potato of Kufri Chipsona variety have been cultivated in more than 5 acres of fields. Head cum Agricultural Scientist of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Dr Rajiv Kumar informed that carbohydrates are found in excessive quantities in normal potatoes. Vitamins, proteins, fiber, potassium, iron and others are also found in it, which are beneficial for the body, he added.
President, Bir Kunwar Singh Krishak Seva Co-operative Society Limited, Dumarhatha, Priya Ranjan Singh said that its cultivation is like normal potato. The hard work is also equal, but its yield becomes almost three times more than the normal potato, he added.
“The biggest feature of sugar-free and chips-making potato cultivation is that chemical fertilizer-free farming is being done here. Production of potato produce is being taken by using organic manure. Farmers said that due to the use of organic manure, the yield of sugar-free potato and potato crop of Chipsona species is higher than the normal potato cultivation. Insects and insects are also less in it,” said Singh.
Singh and Ashok Mistry said that four quintal seeds of Sona fry variety of sugar-free potato and two quintal seeds of Chipsona variety of potato were ordered. “The production of Sona Fry has been estimated to be more than 19 quintals and that of Chipsona to be more than 11 quintals. The weight of a potato of this species is 400-500 grams. In the potato of the Chipsona species, farmers have to give organic fertilizer twice,” they added. Apart from Singh, farmers of Dumarhatha and Nadiain, Ashok Mistry, Rajkumar Mehta, Sudhir Mehta, Jitendra Mehta, Tahal Mehta, Ram Avtar Mehta have cultivated sugar-free potatoes. Farmers said that there is no need to go to the local market and sell. Nearby people buy it from the farm and the house itself. On the other hand, people from places like Chhattisgarh, Ranchi in Jharkhand and Dehri in Bihar buy it. The traders of Dehri in Bihar are in contact with them for the purchase of potato of Chipsona variety. This potato also gets a good price.
Palamu Divisional Commissioner Jatashankar Chaudhary said that there is a belief about potatoes that eating it increases the disease of sugar. “ The Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla has developed different varieties of potatoes in this institute and farmers are planting them. Farmers should cultivate sugar-free potatoes on a large scale and if it is available in the market, sugar patients will also benefit,” he added.
Palamu Deputy Commissioner, Shashi Ranjan said that special varieties of potatoes are being produced by the farmers of Palamu to make sugar free and chips. “There has also been a very good yield. The potato crop has been completely organic. It is good for the farmers of Palamu district to do farming in a scientific way by moving away from the traditional farming methods and with new methods of improved seeds. The district administration is working for market linkage, so that the produce gets a good market price. If it will be produced in more quantity in Palamu, then installation of processing units will also be possible in this area,” he added.
