Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana attends closing ceremony of Fourth Potato Expo as chief guest; 16 farmers honoured with ‘Aloo Ratna’ and ‘Aloo Samman’ awards
Chandigarh, January 10 — Haryana has steadily emerged as a leading agricultural state in the production of high-quality potato seed, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana said on Friday while addressing the closing ceremony of the Fourth Potato Expo organised by the Horticulture Department in Karnal.
The two-day expo witnessed enthusiastic participation from progressive farmers, seed producers, scientists, buyers, sellers, and public and private sector companies from Haryana and other states. The primary objective of the event was to showcase modern technologies in potato cultivation, promote superior quality seed potatoes, and connect farmers with better market opportunities.
During the closing ceremony, the Agriculture Minister inspected the state-of-the-art tissue culture laboratory set up at the institute, where he was briefed on the process of producing disease-free and high-quality seed potatoes. He also visited the aeroponics unit, where potatoes are produced using advanced soil-less technology.
The minister reviewed trial fields showcasing 16 different potato varieties and discussed their yield potential, disease resistance and market suitability. He also visited net houses to assess the scope of protected cultivation for seed potato production. Additionally, he toured stalls set up by various public and private firms displaying seeds, machinery, technical inputs and agricultural equipment, interacting with exhibitors and appreciating innovations aimed at benefiting farmers.
Addressing farmers, buyers and vendors, Shyam Singh Rana said the Potato Expo serves as a strong platform to connect farmers across the country with high-quality seed potatoes produced in Haryana. He noted that with the adoption of new technologies, Haryana has made significant progress in seed potato production, helping farmers reduce input costs and increase income. The expo, he added, would enable direct linkage between producers and buyers, ensuring better market access and fair prices.
The Agriculture Minister said India is an agriculture-based nation and that since 2014, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country has made steady progress, creating new opportunities for the agricultural sector and farmers. He said the vision of a developed India can only be realised through growth in every sector. He highlighted that Haryana is procuring 24 crops at Minimum Support Price and implementing the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana to promote horticulture. He added that the state is actively promoting agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries and horticulture, with Haryana ranking second in fish production nationwide.
He also noted that the government has fixed the price of honey at ₹120 per kg and urged citizens to adopt indigenous products to strengthen the national economy.
After his address, the minister felicitated farmers for outstanding contributions. Five progressive farmers were awarded the ‘Aloo Ratna’ award with a cash prize of ₹11,000 each, while 11 farmers received the ‘Aloo Samman’ award with a cash prize of ₹5,100 each.
On the occasion, it was also informed that the tissue culture laboratory received official accreditation on October 1, 2025, following an inspection by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, New Delhi.
Congratulating the Horticulture Department and scientists, the minister termed the recognition a matter of pride for Haryana, stating that it validates the laboratory’s technical capacity, quality standards and research facilities. He also noted that the state government secured trademark registration of the “Har-Aloo” logo in 2024, symbolising the quality, purity and reliability of Haryana’s seed potatoes, which will help the state gain national recognition.
Senior officials, including Dr Arjun Singh Saini (Head of Department, Special), Director Dr Ranbir Singh and other departmental officers, were present at the event.
