Panchkula, Aug. 26 -- In a region long associated with water-intensive traditional crops and recurring water stress, farmers in south-west Haryana are now looking towards potato contract farming as a new commercial opportunity, with major food-processing companies stepping in to forge direct linkages with growers.
A farmer-industry interaction organised at the Integrated Horticulture Development Centre (IHDC), Sunderah in Mahendragarh, brought farmers face-to-face with representatives of leading food-processing companies, including PepsiCo, Balaji and Hyfun/Mantra, as part of an initiative to promote potato cultivation and connect growers directly with the processing industry.
Around 150 progressive farmers from Mahendragarh, Bhiwani, Cha...