ITC Limited has announced that Technico Agri Sciences Limited (TASL), a wholly owned subsidiary, has inked an agreement with James Hutton Institute (JHI), a Scotland-based research and innovation organisation, to source 16 new varieties and 600 new potato clones for trial and testing in India.
R&D, evaluation
Under the initial five-year agreement, these varieties would go through a process of R&D and evaluation to identify varieties suitable for Indian States.
They are expected to improve yields by up to 20 %.
Technico has been engaging with farmers and processors in many States to help improve farm yield in potatoes significantly, said Sachid Madan, chief executive, TASL.
It had also facilitated exports and processing.
Dr. Jonathan Snape, head of James Hutton Limited, JHI’s commercial subsidiary, stated that since potato farming provides livelihood to a significant section of India’s agricultural community, the tie-up may effectively help farm communities.
