Two new potato varieties for Himahal and UP

New Delhi, Aug 24 (UNI) The Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI), Shimla, has developed two new potato varieties, Kufri Himsona for cultivation in the Himachal Pradesh Hills and Kufri Sadabahar for Uttar Pradesh plains.

Both the varieties have been released by the respective state agencies, said a statement today.

Kufri Himsona, a processing variety, contains high levels of dry matter and low sugar content. It produces excellent white chips for frying. On-line' testing of Kufri Himsona in the industry produced excellent flawless chips.

Cultivation of this variety in the hills of Himachal Pradesh will provide to be a boon to potato farmers particularly in Kangra region.

Till now, this region was dependent on Kufri Jyoti variety which has now become susceptible to blight. Kufri Himsona has very high degree of late blight resistance.

In spite of release of three exclusive varieties for potato processing by CPRI for cultivation in the plains -- Kufri Chipsona-I, Kufri Chipsona-2 and Kufri Chipsona-3 -- there was urgent need for the development of a suitable processing variety for cultivation in the hills so as to maintain round the year availability of raw material for processing units located in the plains.

The cultivation of Kufri Sadabahar will boost potato production in Uttar Pradesh, which has already registered the record production of potato in the country. New table potato variety, Kufri Sadabahar produces more than 10 per cent higher yield over Kufri Bahar. The variety is capable of yielding about 35-40 tonnes/hectare under optimum agronomical practices. The added advantage of this variety is field resistance to late blight.

CPRI also released white skin potato variety for cultivation in plains of Uttar Pradesh. It is the most popular variety in the state occupying as much as nearly 70 per cent of potato area in the state of UP. Though the farmers are satisfied with the productivity of this variety, it is susceptible to late blight, the statement added.

UNI