(a) whether the Government proposes to set up a potato research centre and potato export centre in the country including Uttar Pradesh;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken/being taken by the Government in this regard; and
(c) the amount of funds likely to be spent by the Government on the said project along with the time by which the said projects are likely to be completed?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)
(a) & (b): No, Madam. However, Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI) under the umbrella of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) with its Headquarter at Shimla (HP) has seven potato regional stations located at Modipuram (UP), Jalandhar (Punjab), Patna (Bihar), Gwalior (MP), Ooty (Tamil Nadu), Shillong (Meghalaya) and Kufri (HP) which are involved in carrying out both basic and applied research, including production of breeder seeds for potato for the entire country. Besides, there are 17 centres under All India Coordinated Research Project on Potato (AICRP) located at State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) which are also involved in carrying out location specific research.
In UP, there already exists a robust Research Centre at Modipuram covering all aspects of potato research including seed production. Further, there are two AICRP centres for potato at Faizabad and Kanpur to look after region-specific research.
Hence, at present there is no proposal to set up an additional potato research centre and potato export centre in the country.
(c) Question does not arise.