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ROOT
AND TUBER CROPS |
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The
Root and Tuber crops comprises mainly of Cassova, Potato, Sweet
Potato, Colocacia, Yams, etc. can play a vital role in subsistence
farming and food security of country, the adoption of these crops
in rural and tribal area to make them an important component of
the targeted strategy to secure sufficient food, nutrition and
income for the growing population in the years to come.
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The above tuber crops
are most important after cereals and grain legumes. They are mostly
grown for the following.
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Carbohydrates started in underground storage organ i.e. roots.
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The leaves and leaf stalks of some of the tuber crops are rich
in protein, Vitamins and minerals.
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They are used either for human consumption or cattle feed.
Tuber
crops have the following advantages.
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High productivity.
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Freely adoptable giving economic yield in poor fertility soils
(Sweet Potato and Cassova)
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They grow well in wide range of soil types.
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Require relatively less care in terms of labour and other inputs.
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The present position of production
of 3 major Tuber crops in A.P. is as follows:
| Sl.No. |
Name of the Crop |
Area Ha. |
Production (Tons) |
Productivity Tons/Ha. |
| 1 |
Potato |
7062 |
141240 |
20 |
| 2 |
Tapioca |
17831 |
356620 |
20 |
| 3 |
Sweet Potato |
1110 |
22200 |
20 |
Potential
Districts in A.P. in area, Production & Productivity of Tuber
crops (Potato):
| Sl.No. |
Name of the District |
Area in Ha. |
Production in Tons. |
Productivity
Tons/Ha. |
| 1 |
Medak |
4538 |
90760 |
20 |
| 2 |
Ranga Reddy |
197 |
3940 |
20 |
| 3 |
Chittor |
1892 |
37840 |
20 |
| 4 |
Vishakhapatnam |
145 |
2900 |
20 |
Potential
Districts under Tapioca Crop:
| Sl.No. |
Name of the District |
Area in Ha. |
Production in Tons. |
Productivity
Tons/Ha. |
| 1 |
East Godavari |
16860 |
337200 |
20 |
| 2 |
Vishakapatnam |
620 |
12400 |
20 |
| 3 |
Vizianagaram |
29 |
580 |
20 |
| 4 |
Srikakulam |
267 |
5340 |
20 |
Major
Districts under Sweet Potato:
| Sl.No. |
Name of the District |
Area in Ha. |
Production in Tons. |
Productivity
Tons/Ha. |
| 1 |
Prakasham |
100 |
2000 |
20 |
| 2 |
Vishakapatnam |
240 |
4800 |
20 |
| 3 |
Nellore |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 4 |
Chittoor |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 5 |
Guntur |
50 |
1000 |
20 |
| 6 |
Karimnagar |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 7 |
East Godavari |
53 |
1060 |
20 |
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following other Tuber crops may also be given importance in our state
to increase the productivity level under Tuber crops.
1. Colocacia
2. Diascoria
3. Elephant foot yam.
The above three crops are having a very little
area in Andhra Pradesh and mostly grown as intercrops.
Strategy Proposed under
Tuber Crops:
1. The advise of the scientists have to be taken
for preparation of plan for cultivation of tuber crops in state.
2. Adoption of high yielding varieties.
3. Publicity on Motivation of farmers for taking up the tuber crops
cultivation in Andhra Pradesh.
4. Encouragement of organic farming in tuber crop cultivation.
5. Quality improvement through IPM.
6. Import intensive training programmes to the farmers on latest
technology.
7. Supply of Plant materials from the ICAR research stations.
8. Emphasizing post harvest technology through grading large scale
adoption of packing technology.
9. The subsidy may be given on the seed material under tuber crops.
10. Bring more area under Tuber crop plantation.
Action Plan:
1.
Awareness Programme on adoption of improved/hybrid plant material
under tuber crops.
2. Supply of elite plant material on subsidy to encourage the farmers.
3. Adoption of latest technology on cultivation of tuber crops through
training programme.
4. Area expansion programme.
Farmers may be encouraged by supplying of minikits consisting of
plant material (Improved / Hybrid) and handouts in local languages.
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