Pune: In a pioneering agricultural experiment, farmer Shantaram Limbaji Thorat from Manchar (Taluka Ambegaon) has successfully cultivated 1.5 tons of sugar-free Kufri Neelkanth blue potatoes on a five-guntha plot of land. This is Maharashtra’s first successful attempt at cultivating this unique medicinal potato variety.
A Special Variety for Diabetic and Heart Patients
The Kufri Neelkanth blue potato is known for its medicinal properties and is particularly beneficial for individuals with diabetes and heart disease. The unusual blue color of the potatoes attracted a large number of local farmers, who gathered to witness the successful harvest.
Four Generations of Expertise in Potato Farming
Shantaram Thorat’s family has been involved in potato farming for four generations in Manchar. He actively guides fellow farmers on modern cultivation techniques and took an experimental approach to cultivate this variety.
Cultivation Process and Results
Soil Preparation: The field was prepared using cow dung and poultry manure.
Planting Method: Small potato seeds were planted six inches apart using a tractor, with 50 kg of chemical fertilizer applied at the time of planting.
Irrigation and Maintenance:
Drip irrigation was used for efficient water management.
Weeding was done on the 25th day, and 20 kg of fertilizer was added for enhanced growth after a month.
A fungicide and insecticide spray was applied once.
The crop flowered within 45 days and was harvested after three months.
Yield: The potatoes weighed between 150-175 grams each, with a total output of 1,600 kg.
Market Price and Profitability
The potatoes were sold at ₹12-14 per kg.
Total expenses, including planting, labor, and fertilizers, amounted to ₹9,000.
A net profit of ₹12,000 was earned.
Thorat credited his wife, Sangita, for her support in this agricultural endeavor.
The Potential for Higher Market Value
Thorat spent a year researching sugar-free potatoes. Farmers in Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) have been cultivating this variety for two years, and it is naturally low in sugar, making it ideal for diabetic and health-conscious consumers.
Currently, due to a lack of awareness, these potatoes are being sold at the same price as regular potatoes. However, Thorat believes that with increased awareness, sugar-free blue potatoes could be sold at three to four times the current market rate.
"If awareness about sugar-free potatoes increases, they could fetch three to four times the price of regular potatoes in the market."
— Shantaram Limbaji Thorat, Potato Farmer, Manchar (Taluka Ambegaon)
