Utkal Tubers, a potato seed platform company, is impacting the lives of Indian farmers through innovation in potato farming

Nearly half of India's population work in agriculture; yet, farming contributes only 17% of the country's GDP. Given the low share of agriculture in the GDP, on average, India's agricultural work force earns a significantly lower income than workers in other sectors.
Improving agricultural productivity therefore directly impacts the largest proportion of low income population in India and contributes towards alleviating poverty.

The challenges plaguing India's agricultural sector, where more than 80% of farmers are small and marginal,
are:

• Antiquated farming practices
• Fragmented land holdings
• Limited access to irrigation water
• Poor quality seeds
• Inadequate storage facilities for food crops
• Lack of knowledge about market demand and supply economics
• Over reliance on local banks, middle men and loan sharks for capital

Utkal Tubers' lab-to-land innovations in potato cultivation have enabled increased agricultural yield as well as improved economics for farmers. Utkal has been able to do so through:

• Research and development of disease resistant, high yielding potato seeds
• Deployment of seed buy-back model
• Assistance in adopting best practices to command better margins
• Addressing potato demand locally in non-potato growing regions
• Provision of alternative staple to resource intensive rice or wheat

Utkal has focused R&D efforts on building the best in class seed development for table and processing grade varieties. In potato farming, input seeds is a critical aspect in determining higher output.
Tissue culture based new potato seeds are emerging as a strong favorite amongst farmers, given demonstrated higher yields and relatively improved disease resistance. Utkal produces high quality seeds in state of the art tissue culture laboratory and aeroponics facility adapted to regional climate, soil type, and from virus free mother plants. These seeds are far less vulnerable to pestilence and will ensure a healthy crop yield for the farmers.

Utkal provides the seeds to farmers in exchange for the crops with a guarantee to buy back the crops at a locked-in price. This model protects farmers from price fluctuations in the market, providing financial security.

Utkal provides a package of best practices to the farmers in addition to the high quality high yield seeds to enhance agricultural productivity.
Traditionally, farmers set aside a part of their produce for sowing in the next season. However, due to lack of availability of good quality and locally relevant varieties of potato seeds, the 'seed replacement' rate is extremely poor. This leads to lower yield of potatoes and limits the economic yields of the potato farmers.
By adopting the best practices and using the high quality high yield seed variety, farmers are able to keep their input costs down, command a better margin and therefore allow for a higher income.

India holds the third position in area under potato cultivation and is globally ranked second in total potato production. Within India, the states of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, and Punjab together account for about 90% of India's potato production. Utkal is one of the first companies to introduce potato seeds in the traditionally non- potato producing state of Gujarat in partnership with Sardarkrushinagar Dantewada Agricultural University. By doing so, it has enabled the development of non-traditional potato seed infrastructure in the state. Farmers can reap the benefits of improved seed quality, reduced seed costs and will be able to supply to the local market for potato.
Utkal is further piloting potato cultivation in Assam, another traditionally non-potato producing state to supply to north east India.

Potato has a unique place in the dietary traditions of Indians and since its introduction into India, has become the most widely consumed vegetable in the country. It plays a crucial role as the cheapest carbohydrate per calorie in the Indian diet.
More importantly, being a less water intensive crop that fits in between the two main cropping seasons, lends itself as an excellent third crop for farmers. India is encouraging consumption of potato in place of rice and wheat.

Utkal is present in 5 states across India covering over 400 acres of land under potato cultivation. Utkal has recently started operations to Assam, a low income state in the north east of India.
Utkal has estalished a partnership with the Central Potato Research Institute Shimla to collaborate in improving the seed quality of existing varieties in India by identifying the root cause of mutation in these varieties and to use genetics, as permitted in law, to remove the mutations or shortcomings in these varieties. The company will also collaborate with a leading Agro Genetics company to produce improved and new seed varieties for India and other emerging markets. With these efforts, Utkal can make an important contribution to the goal of zero hunger in India.