Nalbari: Assam Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Pijush Hazarika on Tuesday chaired a meeting on potato value chain development and collaboration in Nalbari, with a focus on improving productivity, storage, processing and market access for farmers. The meeting was followed by an interaction with potato growers, during which farmers shared their expectations, concerns and challenges related to cultivation and marketing. Representatives of PepsiCo, which procures potatoes from farmers in Assam, also participated in the discussions.
Also Read: Three Arrested for Alleged Extortion of Dhubri Doctor
Hazarika stressed the need to strengthen the entire potato value chain so that farmers can secure better returns from their produce. He highlighted the importance of improving productivity as well as developing adequate storage and processing facilities and stronger market linkages. The minister also emphasised closer coordination between farmers, the government and private-sector stakeholders to address challenges faced by cultivators and create better economic opportunities. The discussions explored measures to strengthen infrastructure and facilities at different stages of the value chain, from production and post-harvest management to processing and marketing. The participation of an industry stakeholder such as PepsiCo was seen as an opportunity to improve linkages between growers and the processing sector.
The meeting comes as Assam seeks to promote agricultural value addition and improve farm incomes by connecting producers with organised markets and industries. Hazarika’s interaction with farmers also provided an opportunity to understand ground-level issues affecting potato cultivation and identify areas requiring greater institutional support. The initiative is expected to contribute towards building a more efficient potato supply chain in the state while enhancing opportunities for farmers to benefit from processing and organised procurement.
