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Future Prospects and Challenges of Potato Processing

Industry for Food and Economic Security in India

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 Emerging Trends in Science and Technology Chapter 8
Editors : Ibadur R. Siddiqui, Syed I. Rizvi,
Vishal Srivastava & Pravin K. Singh
ISBN : 978-81-949641-0-0
Editions : 2021

Future Prospects and Challenges of Potato

Processing Industry for Food and Economic
Security in India
Pragya Mishraa and Neha Mishra*b
a
Food Processing and Management, DDU Kaushal Kendra, RGSC, BHU, Varanasi-221005,
Uttar Pradesh, India
b*
Ethelind College of Home Science, SHUATS, Naini, Prayagraj-211007, Uttar Pradesh,
India
Email: neha.alladuniv@gmail.com

Abstract: Potato processing industry has emerged fast due to ever-increasing

urbanization, industrialization together with economic liberalization resulting in more
opportunities for expansion of marketing of indigenous variety with potential role in
food security. Being a major part of diet potatoes are used as a basic ingredient for
ready to use vegetable and it is having increasing demand and success in the market.
The processing of potato proves to be an important option for India’s becoming self-
sufficient in sustaining the food and nutrition which may help farmer as well as
producers to select and cultivate the exact potato varieties according to the consumers
demand. Therefore, the present study was set a forth to initiate attentiveness for
cultivation of improved processing potato varieties rather than table varieties that result
in enhanced processing quality to promote sustainable development of processed
product with enhanced nutritional and organoleptic properties. The present study
aimed at considering, from the perspective of potato processing leading share in
production cost as well as effect on its productivity, the significance of potato cultivation
as per producer, processor and consumer demand concerned which should be high on
the main focus of future marketing research.
Introduction:
The economic growth of any nation is depend on the health of the community
which driven by the availability, and accessibility for food. Potato is calorie-dense
nutritious vegetables and the most important non cereal crop for its contribution

78
towards food security [1,2]. It exhibit highest yield per unit time and area in compare to
other common cereals such as maize, rice, wheat. Potato contain 80% of carbohydrate,
rich in phosporus, carotene, vitamin C and vitamin B complex. Potato is a cash crop and
appeared next to the second after maize in terms of its utilization [3] that can contribute
to the food and nutrition security, alleviate poverty and eradicating malnutrition and
hunger, especially among rural dwellers all around the developing world [2] through
improved processing techniques and food diversification. India alone reported to
produce 90 % of the potatoes which are grown in sub-tropical plains as winter crop.
Hence, India regarded as foremost country for potato production (87%) all over the
world; although potato processing industry still immature. It was well reported that
roots and tubers are the major contributors of per day energy requirement as compare
to the cereals [4]. Recently, Potato has found as a potential crop to ensure the global
food, nutritional and income security. 34% of country's total potato production is
contributed by U. P. alone with meager shares in processing sector. According to FAO
report in 2007 the per capita consumption of potato in India has reported to be risen
from 12 kg/capita/year (in the early nineties) to over 16 kg/capita, with a slight declining
trend in recent years [5].
Table 1 Main Potato producing states in India
State Area (in ,000 ha) Production (in ,000 tonnes)
Assam 104.07 1039.27
Bihar 319.13 6345.52
Gujarat 112.40 3549.38
Madhya Pradesh 141.05 3161.00
Punjab 92.36 2385.26
Uttar Pradesh 608.84 13870.73
West Bengal 427 8427
Total* 2124.41 43882.59

Source: Ministry of agriculture, Ist advance estimates for 2016-2017 [6]

* includes all other states
Potato processing and marketing state of art: The ever increasing demand of
processed food as a consequences of changing eating habits such as snacking leads to
the increment in potato processing as an emerging fast growing industry as well as
providing more opportunity for entrepreneurship [7]. Potato is versatile food could be
utilize for variety of dishes such as side dish, main dish, salad, snakes through adopting
different processing techniques. The potato processing industries are divided into
organized and unorganized sector. Potato chips are most common products
manufacture in both the industry[8]. Potato provides highest per hector per day
production of edible dry matters and ensures to meet the current demand [9].
Although, the future prospect seems depressing especially with respect to the surge in
the demand of processing potatoes. It is well known that potatoes are the winter season
79
crop which are mostly grown from November to March, but are consumed round the
year. In addition, mostly potato is cultivated in tropic and sub tropic geographic area
and their harvesting period coincides with coming high temperature; causes major post
harvest loss [10]. Therefore, proper storage and storage condition plays a key role in the
establishment of time and place utilities. All above facts pointing towards the plenty of
raw materials availability but unfortunately only 4% of the produced potato has been
utilized for processing only due to scarcity of potato processing industries. The major
challenge is to high productivity with short vegetative cycle which upsurge the need of
efficient post-harvest practices includes efficient transport facilities, cold-storage and
market linkage management
Major Challenges in Indian potato processing sector: The potato processing
industry is still underdeveloped in India beside the fact that India is the largest producer
of potato and ranked to third position in world [11]. Potato processing industry is an
important component for ensuring nutritional and economic security. Recently, potato
industry has received an interest as a fast growing industry and considered as a
potential crop to meet the demand of rapidly growing population. There are still some
significant constraints that need to be addressed to reduce waste as post-harvest losses
[12]. Major challenges identified in India are throughout supply of potato to industry.
The major constraints for the growth of potato based processing industry are absence of
adequate infrastructure which includes transport, marketing, storage and lack of
advancement in techniques and research [13]. Cold storage accumulates about 65% of
the national production and accounts for huge post harvest losses due to poor
handlings. The quality of potatoes in the cold storages also becomes questionable due
to poor infrastructure and inadequate facilities such as lack of monitoring, proper use of
pesticides and proper ventilation in cold storage.
There are two main constraints which discussed below-
Constraints faced by small & marginal farmers: Lack of suitable storage
conditions and space (large quantities of produced potatoes are spoiled before its
consumption because of inadequate cold storage facilities to hold the produce for
longer period of time)
• Financial weakness of farmers to afford the seed cost along with fertilizers and
pesticides
• Uncertainty of potato crop insurance
• Unavailability to follow the standard potato cultivation practices by small &
marginal farmers
• Small plot of land
• No other sources of income

80
• Low application of modern technology, irrigation schemes and cold-chain
management systems
• Lack of information on best time and place to sell their produce prevents farmers
from effectively bargaining with traders for a better price
• Inadequate credit for inputs and capital investments and high interests rates
• Poor infrastructure: Limited collection, storage and processing facilities,
underdeveloped rural road systems and lack of electricity
Constraints faced at marketing sector: The main challenges faced by the Indian
potato based processing industry include:
• Unfamiliarity of customers about the processed potato and their food products. So
far there is need to educate consumers about the nutritional value of processed
foods; dealing with low price pliability for such food products.
• There is also need of investigation and operate proper supply chain management
throughout the distribution network; marketing channels development;
rationalization of food laws and food testing network to improve food quality
standards and strengthening.
• Reinforcement is required for institutional framework to develop and enhance
manpower for more improvement in research and development capabilities which
further addressing to the global challenges.
All these challenges should be taken in to consideration by the potato based
processing industry of the in India to achieve full potential in marketing sector.
Consumption form of potato: The utilization of potato as a staple crop is done mainly in
three forms
a. Seed Potato
b. Staple crop/vegetable (85 % consumption)
c. Processed potato (potato grits, granules, flour, starch, potato powder as
intermediary products and chips, dice, waries, flakes and dehydrated mashed
potatoes as formed products. These are also used to prepare baked products like
potato biscuits and frozen foods like potato patties, puffs, wedges, pancake, etc.)
At market site the potatoes are stored so as to get three forms for further processing
1. Table purpose varieties of potatoes (Storage at 3 0C without CIPC fumigation)
2. Sugar free table purpose varieties of potatoes (storage temperature 10 0C with CIPC
fumigation)
3. Processing varieties of potatoes (storage temperature 10 0C with CIPC fumigation)

81
 In India according to FAO (2007) the utilization of potato as raw material for
potato processing was estimated about 4.40 lakh tons which were only about 2% of the
total potato production. There is existence of some food processing industries in the
country but none of them are dedicated to processing of potatoes itself [14]. Besides
the fact, farmers are also involved only to produce mainly table potato whereas
processing varieties like Kufri Chipsona-1, 3, 4, KufriFrysona were ignored. The Central
Potato Research Institute, Shimla has released a total of 44 high yielding potato varieties
till date. The first potato processing varieties known to be grown in India were Kufri
Chipsona-1 and Kufri Chipsona-2 (developed in 1998), followed by Kufri Chipsona-3
(2005) from the Indian plains and considered as first chipping variety as well as
KufriHimsona from the Himalayan hills region [15]. All these varieties contained to have
>21% tuber dry matter content along with low reducing sugars (<0.1% on fresh wt)
which were found to be best suitable to meet all the quality criteria for the production
of processed foods such as chips, French fries and dehydrated potato based products.
Now day’s consumers continuously are demanding for convenience, high quality
nutritionally rich foods. This response has raised the pressure on potato processors to
identify its newer varieties and innovative ways of potatoes utilization. Among all known
processing varieties of potatoes some varieties are not suitable for processed
products production because of its low dry matter content [16].
Moreover, food waste is today’s hot topic. According to FAO (2010) potato
production in India was estimated about 34391 thousand tones. Out of which around
12-20% of their total production was waste and by- product of potato industry. From
the agricultural land to the home, 53% of total conventionally produced table potatoes
are wasted due to the ineffective and inefficient supply chain which results in immense
losses [17]. Therefore, to fulfill the country demand a proper supply chain management
has been required to made improvements and quality control at each steps (storage,
packaging, handling, transportation, value added service etc) which help to reduce the
post-harvest losses to the Nation. It was reported as per the scientific surveys
conducted in Switzerland, that 300 kg of perfectly good food thrown as waste in dustbin
per person every year. Hence, It is important to pay attention by the researchers to
encourage growers to use only those varieties that make good quality products both at
the time of harvest as well as during storage for longer periods of time because
horticultural characteristics and a wide adaptableness is a key to all steps of potato
processing industry. Potatoes have extensive utilization in processed and snacks food
industries which mainly comprises of 4 segments: chips, French fries, potato
grits/flakes/powder and other processed ready to eat and ready to cook products such
as jam, murraba, candy, biscuits, cakes. There are 28 industries involved in production of
proceesed potato products like potato chips, flakes/powder and French fries in India.
Both the organized and unorganized sectors including multinational companies such as
Frito-Lay, the food arm of PepsiCo India Holdings Pvt. Ltd. (alone utilized around 1.5 lakh
tons) are involved in production of different potato products and about 10 lakh tons of
potatoes were processed [18]. At present good quality potato flakes and powder are not

82
available at affordable price in country and fast food companies import these potato
flakes.
Quality parameter of potatoes for processing: The main quality parameters of
potatoes intended for processing includes external (morphological traits), internal
(physicochemical) and sensory properties along with additional nutritional value and
low content of any anti-nutrients [19,20]. Some of potato varieties are not suitable for
processing purpose. Shape and size, color and texture after cooking are the main factors
that affect potato quality and are of major concern among consumers. Appearance,
color, taste, texture and nutritional value of the product are key factors to evaluate the
quality of processed potato products during purchasing by the consumers. In the
present day, food market offers an inclusive range of potato varieties which are
classified according to their organoleptic characteristics, nutritional quality and end-use.
Variation in cultivation condition of potatoes in the areas of different soil-water qualities
results in distinctive difference in its chemical composition. These distinctive changes
results in continuous challenges for the potato processor to maintain uniformity in the
product quality. For marketing a product it is important to study both its
physicochemical properties as well as its change in its quality characteristics and
microbiological profile during storage[20]. Potatoes should retain certain minimum
morphological and biochemical quality characters anticipated for making higher quality
processed food products and providing the technological value which refers to the
quality of the potatoes destined for industrial processing.
Table 2. The product wise tuber quality requirements are different which is given as
below.
Tuber Dried/dehydrated French Potato Canned
characteristics product fries Chips potato
product
Shape and Round-oval and Oblong Round-oval Round-oval
size (mm) >30 >45 and 45-80 and 20-35
Specific 1.080 1.080 >1.080 <1.070
gravity
Dry matter % >20 >20 >20 <18
Reducing 0.25 0.15 <0.1 0.5
sugar % (frwt)
Tuber colour Cream White Cream Light
yellow
Texture Fairly firm- mealy Fairly firm Fairly firm- Waxy
mealy
Discolouration Slight Slight - Nil
(after cooking)

83
 Presence of No greening No No greening No
greening greening greening
Source- Lisinska et al [20]
India is the largest contributor of potato production (87%) in the world out of
which 34% of country's total potato production is contributed by U. P. alone with
meager shares in processing sector. Besides having plenty of raw materials only 3% of
the produced potato is presently utilized for processing due to scarcity of potato based
processing industries. Farmers of the country produce mainly table potato whereas
processing varieties like Kufri Chipsona-1, 3, 4, KufriFrysona are ignored due to lack of
proper knowledge. Potato has wide utilization in processed and snacks food industries.
At present good quality potato flakes and powder are not available at affordable price in
country and fast food companies import these potato flakes. So far it forces to envisage
for identifying the most appropriate processing potato variety from different potato
growing regions of state and further its promotion for processing to develop newer
processed products (powder/grits/flakes, chips, bhujia, french-fries, starch etc.), to
ensure well-adjusted economic development and maximum profit to all stakeholders,
involved in all steps of potato crop from its cultivation, harvesting, storage, processing
and distribution[21]. This will further help in encouraging potato processing at small
scale in U. P. via collaboration between producers, processors. Sharing of technology
with new entrepreneurs and small scale industries involved in potato processing will
help in promotion of domestic marketing and international export to enhance the
economic position of the states throughout the country.
Future prospects: Market for potato processing increased at the rate of 10 to
15%. Presently the potato processing holds 7.5% of the total production of potato and
this figure expected to increase up to 10% by the year 2020. Development of more
suitable processing cultivars of potato; moreover, it is also vital to assess the suitability
of the released cultivars for processing purpose asonly much emphasis was given to
productivity per unit area and diseased conditions such as late blight reaction when
compare to the processing quality characteristics to meet the demand of the potato
processing industry[13]. Sharing of technology with new entrepreneurs and small scale
industries involved in potato processing will help in elevation of national marketing
sector and international export platform for augmentation of the economic position. In
addition, the fast food chain requires formed or processed product of potato available in
the form of pouches and packets. In India the potato processing industries had no
option to prefer Indian table varieties for processing into chips due to unavailability of
suitable raw material; accessibility for the production of processing quality potatoes.
From quality point of view value addition of potato through pretreatments like
blanching for enzyme inactivation and enhancement of shelf life by drying, giving better
economical value and development of ready to eat potato based snack. This will help in
enhanced use of locally available potatoes across the state and prevent post harvest
losses. This will further help in encouraging potato processing at small scale and as well
as at large scale in India via sharing of technology with new entrepreneurs and small
84
scale industries involved in food/potato processing. More broadly we can consider
preprocessing treatments like blanching and drying methods for of preparation of
potato flakes from different processing varieties not very familiar among farmers,
energy dense utilizing via may be set as a viable means for achieving food security and
nutrition in rural poor communities. Therefore, it is essential to encourage the breeding
program for development of indigenous processing varieties that could pave a way for
increased potato utilization to withstand increase in production and to ensure
remunerative prices to the small scale industries, entrepreneurs as well as farmers. It
can be recommended to promote the potato cultivation and processing
• Promotion and production of quality potato variety mainly processing varieties for
potato cultivation.
• Promotion of modern and latest improved technologies for potato cultivation.
• Safeguarding sufficient storage facilities for seed and table potato and processing
varieties according to the requirement.
• Promotion of potato based small scale as well as large scale processing industries to
enhance the market area of potato processing.
• Transfer of technologies and scientific methods to the farmers, small scale growers
and capacity building.
• To promote and encourage processing/marketing/export of potato outside the
state as well as country for food and economic security.
Conclusion:
The present study concludes to encourage the establishment of potato based
processing industries along with enhanced production of potato processing varieties
seeds. Priority will be given for the cultivation and promotion of processing varieties
seed production programmed in major potato producing areas for the establishment of
potato based processing industries. During the off season potatoes can be processed for
preservation by drying/dehydration and value addition in the form of grits, powder,
flakes, granules, wafers/ chips, canned slices which may be stored for longer periods of
time. During the season, when there is abundance of potatoes and are cheaply
available, potato flour can be prepared and stored in air tight containers which can later
be used in place of fresh form of potatoes in the course of offseason. Processing of
potato is perhaps required most satisfactory method of creating economic product that
is not only functionally adequate, but also remain for an extended period without
damage and assist in marketing convenience with reduction in postharvest losses of
potatoes in the country.
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Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). (2007). Challenges in potato research. In: The National Policy
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