Goa-based ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute will conducttrialsto grow crops that are not usually cultivated in Goa, among which are apple, potato which are usually sourced from other states.
The production of all is very mild in Goa but attempts must be made to make best use of the area under cultivation and grow such crops. The duty of the institute is to try growing new varieties of crops so that the dependence on Karnataka, especially Belagavi can be reduced.
Goa currently sources 320 tons of vegetables especiallypotatoesand onions per day from neighboring Karnataka and Maharashtra.
ICAR-CCARI has signed an MoU with CPRI (central potato research institute) to increase vegetable and fodder production in the state to make Goa swampurana or self-reliant. Five varieties of potato have been recommended for cultivation in the state Kufri Surya, Kufri Lima, Kufri Kiran, Kufri Thar 1 and Kufri Pukhraj.