Potato Cultivation in Non-traditional Areas of Rajasthan

Abstract

With the ever-increasing population pressure and the need to ensure food security, it is imperative to find suitable alternative crops for augmenting farm productivity in non-traditional areas of Thar Desert of Rajasthan. For the first time, potato cultivars like Kufri Chipsona-4 and Kufri Frysona (for processing) and Kufri Jyoti, Kufri Garima and Kufri Surya were assessed for their production potential under drip and microsprinkler system of irrigation in the hot arid region of north-western Rajasthan. After experimentation for three consecutive years (2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18), it was found that these cultivars are agronomically most efficient
in resource poor conditions and had given high yield, better quality tubers and good returns. This will increase the demand and will further motivate the farmers to grow potatoes in this region. It is therefore necessary to educate the farmers on proper skill development coupled with field demonstrations on good agricultural practices for potato cultivation in the hot arid region of Rajasthan.