SHILLONG: Uttar Pradesh Government is now set to export potatoes to Meghalaya. The UP State Horticulture Cooperative Marketing Federation (HOFED) on Friday also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with traders of Meghalaya to this effect.
With the signing of the MoU, the UP Government would send around 20000 metric tons of potatoes per year to the traders of Meghalaya.
Speaking to media persons, UP State HOFED, General Manager, A K Srivastava said that the State of UP under its Potato policy, 2014 was promoting its potatoes in the North Eastern market including Meghalaya.
Claiming that the quality of UP Potatoes is very good, Srivastava said that the potatoes could be exported to Meghalaya from February-March next year.
Apart from exporting potatoes, the HOFEF is also exploring to buy potatoes of Shillong, adding that the State of Uttar Pradesh annually produces around 155 lakh metric tons of potatoes out of which around 30 lakh metric tons are being exported to different states of the country mostly in Southern India.
Responding to queries, the HOFEF official said that the prices of potatoes exported to Shillong might be a bit more in the absence of railway connection to the hill state. The potatoes meant for Shillong will be sent through railway till Guwahati.
The officials of the HOFED also held discussions with top officials of the Horticulture department here.