Potato is one of the most important commercial crops that are cultivated all year long due to its demand both in local and international market. With the good farming techniques and cultivation practices, you can obtain more than 40 tonnes of potato per hectare.
Growing potatoes is very easy and simple, even beginners can start growing potatoes for making profits. Moreover, commercial potato farming is not a new idea so you don’t have to worry much about it.
How to start commercial Potato farming?
First of all, you have to select a good location for starting potato framing business. The selected land must be well drained and fertile.
Winter is the best season fir potato cultivation. Potatoes cannot withstand higher temperatures. The best time for planting potato is when the maximum and minimum temperatures from 30°C to 18°C.
Best Potato varieties:
There are about 4000 varieties of potato available around the globe and among these varieties there are some varieties which have specific agricultural requirement or culinary attributes. Some of the commonly grown varieties in India are Kufri Sindhuri, Kufri chandramukhi, Kufri Jyoti, Kufri Lauvkar etc.
Purchase seeds:
The seeds of potato are not actually seeds. Potatoes are grown from full size regular potatoes which are allowed to start producing shoots from the potato eyes. You can purchase these seed potatoes from the market easily.
Planting:
Proper spacing is to be maintained for better yield. For Hilly regions, a spacing of 30*60 cm is good with furrow method while growing on plains, a spacing of 30*30cm is the ideal one. Potatoes are to be sown at a depth of 12 inches.
Irrigation:
It is a key factor that determines the quality and quantity of the yield. Potatoes require irrigation throughout growth, especially during initiation and enlargement of the potato tubers and also during the potato plants flowering.
Fertilizer Requirements:
Add Nitrogen, phosphorous & Potash in the ratio of 120:50:225. Adding Organic Manure or Vermicompost, basically more than 20 tonnes per hectares while preparing soil is beneficial in acquiring all the micronutrient required for any type of commercial crop.
Profit Analysis:
The cost of cultivation of potato in one hectare ranges from Rs 1.25 Lakh to Rs 1.5 Lakh. At the same time, a hectare yields 200-250 quintals. In such a situation, if the price of potato in the market is even Rs 15, then your potato will be sold for Rs 3.75 Lakh.
That is, a profit of about Rs 2.5 lakh. If you keep potatoes in cold stores and sell them when the price increases, then the profit can increase further. If potato is to be cultivated commercially the best way is contract farming, in which you can already contract with the company for the price of potato.
With this, even if the price in the market is low, you will get the same profit as your deal was done with the company.
