Growth and Instability in Production of Potato in India

Abstract

Potato is one of the most important food crops after wheat, maize and rice, contributing to food and nutritional security of the world. The present study examined the trends and variability of area, production and productivity of potato in important states of India and the country as a whole during period 1984–85 to 2013–14. Also, the relative contribution of area and yield in the growth of production in these states was also studied. Area under potato has been showing an upward trend over the years in the selected states even though there were variations. Similar trend is being observed in production and yield of potato over last three decades. The variability in both the acreage and production was highest in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh and lowest in Uttar Pradesh. Yield variability was also found to be maximum in Bihar and minimum in Uttar Pradesh. Contribution of area towards the production was found to be higher compared to that of yield except in case of Punjab. So it can be said that technological development and improvement in extension efforts for their better adoption has to be given more importance to cope up with the increasing demand of potato.