Bengal govt to revamp potato seeds institute

The West Bengal government (India) would revamp the ailing potato seeds institute at Kalimpong to keep its supply line intact for the benefit of farmers in the state without depending on Punjab or Haryana.

Replying to a question in state assembly, state's Agriculture Marketing Minister Arup Roy said the state government was already in touch with the Union Agriculture Ministry for the purpose.

A team of scientists from the Centre would soon visit Kalimpong before finalising plan to revamp the potato seeds institute there. Potato seeds institute requires a cold climate and Kalimpong is ideal location for the purpose, he said. Replying to another question, the minister said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had already directed to set up cold storage in all 341 blocks in the state. Of which places for 92 cold storages have already been identified, Roy said adding that works for 36 cold storages were in progress, while one cold storage has already been commissioned by the state government.