3^rd India International Potato Expo 2012

“FARM to FORK”

“Productivity, Processing & Cold Chain Logistics”

December 21 & 22, 2012, IARI Exhibition Ground, PUSA, New Delhi

New Delhi 17 December 2012: With high food value and substantial production across the world, potato can play a crucial role in food security and economic development of developing and developed economies. It is the third most important food crop in the world after rice and wheat and constitutes half of the world’s annual output of roots and tuber crops. Various researches showed that in the face of rising world population and concomitant scarcity of arable land, Potato can and will feed many a hungry mouths. Thus, potato is not only a mere staple food and cash crop in many parts of the world, it fetches increasing economic importance year by year. India is the second largest potato producing nation. It is the most familiar food across all the states of India. Potato is an important constituent in Indian food processing industry as well. A diversified product range including chips, fries, and many other snacks are capturing higher market share in our country and is poised to grow substantially in near future. Thus potato has evolved as a true global food with huge economic value.

On the occasion of the “Year of Horticulture”, the Indian Chamber of Commerce with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Food Processing, Govt of India is organizing the 3^rd India International Potato Expo 2012 during 21^st & 22^nd December 2012 at IARI Exhibition Ground, PUSA, New Delhi. This would be a forum where all the stakeholders of Indian Potato sector would assemble and exchange views on how the benefits from the 1st & 2^nd India International Potato Expo can be taken forward. The Summit & Expo will be attended by international experts, academicians, policy makers, corporate houses, agri-scientists, bankers, members from the farming community and others. 3rd IIPE’2012 aims to enhance the production of good quality potato and processable variety for processed industries and also explore the global market by exporting surplus potato.

The 2-day programme is truly going to be very significant in terms of the subjects to be covered, including food security, sustainable use of technologies, technical know-how, potato productivity, marketability and trade, best practices, modernization of potato processing, marketing and export of potato products,. The longstanding impediments against smooth growth of potato industry like huge wastage due to lack of adequate cold storage facilities, fluctuating potato prices, shortage of proper agri-infrastructure, policy challenges, adverse climate and loss of biodiversity will be addressed in the technical conference.

The Hon’ble Union Minister of Agriculture & Food processing Industries, Shri Sharad Pawar and Shri Tariq Anwar, Minister of States of Agriculture & Food processing Industries, West Bengal Agriculture Minister, Shri Moloy Ghatak, West Bengal Agriculture Marketing Minister, Shri Arup Roy, Union Agriculture Secretary, Shri Asish Bahuguna, Union Food Processing Secretary, Shri Rakesh Kakkar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Shri Atanu Purkayastha, Shri Sanjeev Chopra, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr B P Singh, Director, Central Potato Research Institute will grace the occasion. The event will also witness the presence of representatives from National Horticulture Board, Central Potato Research Center, State Government, Agriculture Scientists and many other stakeholders like cold chain companies, fertilizer industries, potato processing industries, banks, research institutions and agriculture universities. The 2day Exhibition would also have participation from Ministry of Agriculture, State Governments like, West Bengal, Punjab, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Meghalaya and others.