Bhubaneswar, August 29: The Potato Mission initiated by the previous BJD government in Odisha has been deemed a failure, leading to a significant supply crisis in the state, according to Deputy Chief Minister K.V. Singh Deo, who holds the Agriculture portfolio.
Singh Deo responded to a query raised by BJP MLA Tankadar Tripathy in the state assembly, revealing that the mission, launched in 2015-16, has not achieved its goals due to several reasons.
He highlighted that Odisha requires 13.81 lakh metric tons of potatoes annually, but the state produces only 4.28 lakh metric tons, leaving a shortfall of 9.53 lakh metric tons.
This shortage has resulted in a prolonged supply crisis, forcing Odisha to rely heavily on imports from states like West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab.
In an attempt to boost potato production, the state government has been providing special financial assistance to farmers, offering ₹30,000 per hectare for potato cultivation. However, despite these efforts, the mission has not succeeded in meeting the state's potato demands.
