AASU in potato cultivation

Guwahati, Feb 02 (UNI) The All Assam Student Union (AASU) with its sister organization Assam Unnati Sabha(AUS) have focussed on self employment generation and has carried out potato cultivation worth Rs 8 crores.

The veil for this mini-revolution was lifted by the AASU and AUS in a press conference here today where they signed a Memorandum of Understating(MoU) with the Guwahati Marketing Company for the buy back arrangement.

Addressing a press conference here today, AASU adviser Dr Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharya said that potato cultivation was carried out over 5000 bighas of land in Barpeta district with the technical input from the Assam Agricultural University (AAU).

The marketing company invested in the technical hardware and pesticides while 2135 farmers worked in this field. The potato will be collected from February 15 and the yield is expected to be 4000 kilogram per bigha.

'' We are expecting 2000 tones of potato and we have made arrangement for its storage'' said Dr Bhattacharya. According to him this was basically a pilot project to show the farmers about the potentiality.

'' Assam needs Rs 400 crores of potato and it has potentiality to absorb home production which is superior and economically viable'' said Mr Mohit Dheer, of the Guwahati Marketing Company who is buying back the entire produce.

The AASU and AUS are already working with pickle giant Nilon's.

They have encouraged young members of the AASU as well as other educated youths to go for cash crop in massive way with a buy back arrangement with the pickle giant.

'' We are also producing Papaya in 300 bighas in Tinsukia and Bongaigaon district'' he said.

Explaining the technicality, Dr Hemanta Morol of the AAU said that entire 5000 bighas are serenaded over seven pockets and most of the land holdings of each farmer are around 10 bighas. These lands remain idle after the harvesting of paddy in November.

Dr Bhattacharya appealed to the State Bank if India to expedite the loan process so that farmers get more benefit for such high returns cultivation.

UNI MT KK DB1824