The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in India has announced it will offer a training program on potato processing techniques for farmers in the industry. The courses will take place between January 29 and 31, 2019 at the University’s Food Industry Business Incubation Center.

The training program is designed to help farmers curb financial losses. Because potatoes are perishable goods which need to be handled with great precision when it comes to storing or handling, it is quite common for farmers in the country to see their efforts turned into financial losses and wastage of precious food.

To prevent this from happening, PAU wants to teach potato growers how to maximize their yields. Farmers will thus have the opportunity to gain hands-on training and information regarding the processing of potatoes during the two-day courses.

The Department of Food Science and Technology at the University has developed novel equipment to aid farmers with the production of added potato products such as potato papad, potato chakli or potato flour. According to experts, these low-cost goods can help potato growers ward off financial crises.

The Department is also working on technologies to make potato starch from non-commercial potato types. The output can then be used to prepare starch, soups and custard powder. What’s more, researchers are working on designing new technology for the production of noodles and pasta.

Potatoes are an important industry in Punjab, which is India’s sixth largest potato producing state.