India’s potato production increased 51% to 52.5 million tons (MT) in over a decade, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said during the Global Potato Conclave, reports Money Control. The event took place between January 28–31 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat

The country’s production stood at 34.7 MT in 2008, the minister added. Tomar pegged the potato output to grow about 3% annually until 2050. He also added that production of potato rose 34 times in seven decades while the area under cultivation grew by 9.3 times.

India is the second-largest producer of potato after China in the world. Together, both countries contributes 38% of the world’s total potato production.

Tomar expressed concerned over crop losses, saying the damage to the crop currently stands at 16% that needs to be reduced.

Moreover, experts and researchers will have to find a way out to develop high-quality and disease-resistant variety of potato seed which would consume less water and meet the challenges of global warming, Tomar said.

Speaking at the same event, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said Gujarat has emerged as the second-largest producer of potato in India. Besides, Gujarat is also the largest exporter of potato contributing to around 25% of the total export.

The state also saw a sharp growth in potato production, growing six times from 0.6MT to 3.7MT in one-and-a-half decade, he said.

There are also several potato processing units in the state already and more are coming.