State to buy 20k MT potatoes from UP every yr

SHILLONG: Uttar Pradesh is set to export potatoes to Meghalaya with the UP State Horticulture Cooperative Marketing Federation (HOFED) signing a memorandum of understanding on Friday.
The Meghalaya government will buy around 20,000 metric tonne (MT) of potatoes annually. Speaking to media persons, HOFED general manager Anjali Kumar Srivastava said Uttar Pradesh under its potato policy of 2014 is promoting its produce in the northeastern market, including Meghalaya. Potatoes may be exported from February-March next year.
Besides, HOFED is also looking for importing potatoes from Shillong. Uttar Pradesh annually produces around 155 lakh metric tonnes of potatoes out of which around 30 lakh metric tonne are being exported to different states, mostly in south India. Responding to queries, Srivastava said prices of exporting potatoes to Shillong might increase in the absence of railways and he added that potatoes can be exported through railways till Guwahati.
HOFED officials during their visit to Shillong also held discussions with top officials of the Horticulture Department.