Himachal Pradesh to Set Up Rs 20 Crore Potato Processing Plant in Una

Shimla, December 28: The Himachal Pradesh government is set to establish a potato processing plant in Una district with an investment of approximately Rs 20 crore. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu made this announcement on Saturday, highlighting the significant impact the project will have on the state’s agriculture sector.

The proposed plant is expected to have a processing capacity of at least 500 kg per hour, with a primary focus on producing potato flakes. The state’s agriculture department has been tasked with preparing a detailed project report (DPR) for the initiative.

Agriculture plays a crucial role in Himachal Pradesh’s economy, contributing around 14 percent to the state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). Potatoes, a major crop, account for about 20 percent of the state’s total vegetable production, with an annual yield of approximately 2,38,317 metric tonnes grown across 16,960 hectares of land.

The establishment of the processing plant will provide better prices for potato farmers, boost the local economy, and create employment opportunities within both the agricultural and industrial sectors. By converting potatoes into value-added products like flakes, the plant will also help stabilize the market and protect farmers from the price fluctuations that often occur in the fresh potato market.

Potato flakes, made by cooking, mashing, and drying potatoes into flat, dehydrated chunks, have gained popularity in the market. The processing plant will help meet the growing demand for such products, which is increasingly driven by changing consumer preferences and a growing processing industry.

Una district, which produces around 54,200 metric tonnes of potatoes from 3,400 hectares of land across both the Autumn and Spring seasons, is ideally suited for the plant. Additionally, neighboring Punjab also contributes significantly to the potato supply, ensuring a steady raw material supply for the plant.

The Chief Minister also highlighted that one of the key advantages of potato farming in Himachal Pradesh is the ability to harvest during the Rabi season, typically in March. However, market conditions often lead to distress sales at this time. The establishment of the processing unit will help alleviate this issue by providing farmers with a stable market and better prices throughout the year.

Sukhu further emphasized that Himachal Pradesh’s climate is perfect for producing high-quality, disease-free seed potatoes, which are in high demand across India. The growing popularity of processed potato products in the country aligns with the state’s potential to capitalize on the expanding industry.

Overall, the development of the potato processing sector in Himachal Pradesh will not only enhance the livelihoods of local farmers but also contribute to the broader growth of the state’s agricultural economy.