Kufri Frysona: A Potato Variant with High Yield and Disease Resistance, Ideal for French Fry Manufacture
In a significant development for the Indian potato industry, a new variety named Kufri Frysona has emerged as a promising contender for French fry production. This high-yielding potato variety, specifically bred for this purpose, has outperformed existing varieties in both yield and quality in evaluation trials.
Kufri Frysona's Impressive Yield and Quality
Kufri Frysona recorded a 25.6% higher total yield compared to Kufri Surya and an impressive 59.6% higher yield of French fry-grade tubers than Kufri Chipsona-1. The long, oblong, white-fleshed tubers produced by Kufri Frysona are ideal for producing uniformly shaped fries with minimal peeling loss. Furthermore, fries made from Kufri Frysona exhibited excellent color, crispness, and texture, while showing minimal oil absorption and no sogginess, even after extended frying.
Kufri Frysona's Resistance to Diseases and Storage Capabilities
Kufri Frysona exhibits strong field resistance to late blight, a destructive potato disease. It also boasts longer tuber dormancy, which helps in prolonged storage without early sprouting. Kufri Frysona maintains good quality under cold storage conditions for up to five months with CIPC treatment.
Kufri Ganga: A Versatile Variety
Kufri Ganga, another promising variety, thrives in water stress conditions and has good keeping quality without refrigeration. It offers a yield of 35-40 tonnes per hectare and resists late blight. Kufri Ganga should be planted during the second fortnight of October in the north-central plains of India. It demonstrates excellent storage behavior, with low sprout weight and minimal overall weight loss.
Industrial-Scale Trials and National Priorities
Industrial-scale trials conducted by leading processors have validated the laboratory findings and reinforced Kufri Frysona's suitability for commercial French fry production. Kufri Frysona offers advantages such as high yield, good frying quality, low oil absorption, and resistance to major diseases, making it suitable for the Indian processing potato industry.
Moreover, Kufri Ganga supports national priorities such as import substitution, income diversification, rural development, and export potential.
Recommended Crop Geometry and Fertilization Regimen
The recommended crop geometry for Kufri Ganga is 67.5 cm spacing between rows and 25 cm between plants within each row. The ideal fertilization regimen for Kufri Ganga includes 270 kg of nitrogen, 80 kg of phosphorus (P2O5), and 150 kg of potassium (K2O) per hectare.
In conclusion, the introduction of Kufri Frysona and Kufri Ganga offers significant potential for the Indian potato industry. These high-yielding, disease-resistant varieties promise to enhance the quality of French fries produced locally, while also supporting national priorities and contributing to the growth of the industry.
