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Economic Times
3 days ago
- General
- Economic Times
Why India's potato production misses out on its true potential despite being a global giant
Synopsis Despite being the world's second-largest potato producer, India still misses out on the true potential of the crop. Per capita consumption remains low compared to countries like Belarus or Nepal, partly because potatoes in India are treated as a side vegetable rather than a staple. The varieties grown here are optimized for warmer climates and long storage, often at the cost of flavour. As a result, most Indians consume generic, flavourless potatoes, with little exposure to high-quality, fresh varieties. Despite High Output, India's Potato Production Has Key Gaps My father wasn't fond of eating meat but didn't like most vegetables either. Essentially, he felt potatoes were the perfect food and would have been happy eating them all the time. India is now the world's second largest producer of potatoes, most of it consumed internally. Clearly, many of us feel that way is remarkable for a crop whose widespread cultivation in India barely goes back two centuries. Our per capita consumption is still relatively low. Belarus tops that list, at a whopping 155 kg per person each year, with Ukraine, Kyrg yzstan and Kazakhstan all crossing 100 kg. India's per capita consumption is just 25 kg per a clearinghouse for desi aloo information, suggests this is partly due to the influence of Jainism, which abjures all root vegetables. Another, slightly more plausible reason, is that we eat potatoes as a vegetable in itself, in curries, stir-fries or stuffed in breads. The high consumption countries are eating it as a starchy staple, rather than grains, and also distilling it into vodka.A third reason for low per capita consumption might be that potatoes aren't really suited for growing in India. They originated in the high, cool valleys of the Andes, where more than 3,000 varieties can still be found, with many variations of shape and colour. 'These high-altitude potatoes are smaller, but they keep better, are more nutritious and have much more flavour,' writes Edward Behr in 50 Foods: A Guide to Deliciousness. The top consuming countries are all temperate ones, while Nepal, where per capita consumption is over 90 kg, offers cool climates and high has managed its massive potato production by breeding varieties that can handle warmer climates, but at the cost of flavour — which isn't seen as important because taste will come from the spices and other ingredients with which they are cooked. We also grow them as a winter crop in northern states and then keep them in cold storages for the rest of the year to supply across the country. Prolonged storage affects taste and cooking quality, but again, the cooking methods cover this explains why potatoes in India are usually sold as standard aloo , not specific varieties. Behr writes about varieties like 'the creamy, flavourful French La Ratte, a fingerling, meaning it's small, long, knobby, tender, and waxy' or the large russet potatoes which 'make a nutty puree with perceptible grains of starch'. The nearest you get to that here is in hilly areas where people have access to fresh potatoes and will tell you that those from certain areas are particularly growth of potato processors has increased our distance from actual tubers. By handling storage, peeling and cutting for products like French fries, so that chefs need to only open bags and do final frying, these companies remove any pressure to produce good potato dishes. They are so skilled at standardisation that you won't get bad potato dishes from them — but you won't get great ones and, the real sadness, you forget how good potatoes can be.I was reminded of this recently in Sublime, a Goa restaurant where chef Chris Aga still makes confit potatoes. The tubers are sliced thin, close packed in a tin, cooked with plenty of butter and then pressed to compact them further. Then they are unmoulded, sliced and fried again, giving you a layered product that manages to be both crisp and creamy at the same also makes wonderful mashed potatoes, carefully boiled and mashed with plenty of butter. Mashed potatoes seem to have vanished from restaurants because most processors don't market a version in India and it's easier just to use their pre-processed fries or wedges. Potato lovers, like my father, will always be happy in India, but the plain perfection of dishes made with good potatoes reminds us of what we are still missing out.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Why India's potato production misses out on its true potential despite being a global giant
My father wasn't fond of eating meat but didn't like most vegetables either. Essentially, he felt potatoes were the perfect food and would have been happy eating them all the time. India is now the world's second largest producer of potatoes, most of it consumed internally. Clearly, many of us feel that way too. This is remarkable for a crop whose widespread cultivation in India barely goes back two centuries. Our per capita consumption is still relatively low. Belarus tops that list, at a whopping 155 kg per person each year, with Ukraine, Kyrg yzstan and Kazakhstan all crossing 100 kg. India's per capita consumption is just 25 kg per head. 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Another, slightly more plausible reason, is that we eat potatoes as a vegetable in itself, in curries, stir-fries or stuffed in breads. The high consumption countries are eating it as a starchy staple, rather than grains, and also distilling it into vodka. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Elegant New Scooters For Seniors In 2024: The Prices May Surprise You Mobility Scooter | Search Ads Learn More Undo A third reason for low per capita consumption might be that potatoes aren't really suited for growing in India. They originated in the high, cool valleys of the Andes, where more than 3,000 varieties can still be found, with many variations of shape and colour. 'These high-altitude potatoes are smaller, but they keep better, are more nutritious and have much more flavour,' writes Edward Behr in 50 Foods: A Guide to Deliciousness. The top consuming countries are all temperate ones, while Nepal, where per capita consumption is over 90 kg, offers cool climates and high altitudes. India has managed its massive potato production by breeding varieties that can handle warmer climates, but at the cost of flavour — which isn't seen as important because taste will come from the spices and other ingredients with which they are cooked. We also grow them as a winter crop in northern states and then keep them in cold storages for the rest of the year to supply across the country. Prolonged storage affects taste and cooking quality, but again, the cooking methods cover this up. This explains why potatoes in India are usually sold as standard aloo , not specific varieties. Behr writes about varieties like 'the creamy, flavourful French La Ratte, a fingerling, meaning it's small, long, knobby, tender, and waxy' or the large russet potatoes which 'make a nutty puree with perceptible grains of starch'. The nearest you get to that here is in hilly areas where people have access to fresh potatoes and will tell you that those from certain areas are particularly esteemed. The growth of potato processors has increased our distance from actual tubers. By handling storage, peeling and cutting for products like French fries, so that chefs need to only open bags and do final frying, these companies remove any pressure to produce good potato dishes. They are so skilled at standardisation that you won't get bad potato dishes from them — but you won't get great ones and, the real sadness, you forget how good potatoes can be. I was reminded of this recently in Sublime, a Goa restaurant where chef Chris Aga still makes confit potatoes. The tubers are sliced thin, close packed in a tin, cooked with plenty of butter and then pressed to compact them further. Then they are unmoulded, sliced and fried again, giving you a layered product that manages to be both crisp and creamy at the same time. Sublime also makes wonderful mashed potatoes, carefully boiled and mashed with plenty of butter. Mashed potatoes seem to have vanished from restaurants because most processors don't market a version in India and it's easier just to use their pre-processed fries or wedges. Potato lovers, like my father, will always be happy in India, but the plain perfection of dishes made with good potatoes reminds us of what we are still missing out.
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
‘10th-century' Jain sculpture discovered
Pudukottai: Archaeology enthusiasts said they have discovered a 10th-century Jain sculpture at Vellala Kottaiyur in Thirumayam in Pudukkottai district. A Manikandan, founder of the Pudukkottai Archaeological Research Forum and a researcher at the department of archaeology, Tamil University, Thanjavur, identified the sculpture as that of Mahavira. He said the sculpture was spotted by a govt employee amid bushes. Manikandan said the sculpture is 90cm high, 47cm wide, and belongs to the 10th-century sculptural tradition. "This sculpture belongs to the Chola-period sculptural tradition of the 9th–10th centuries CE. During this time, Jainism flourished in the Pudukottai region and several sculptures from the period were discovered in the region," he said. "This sculpture is considered an important testimony to the Jain heritage of the Pudukottai region and highlights the need for immediate conservation," he added. Mohammed, joint secretary of the forum, Radhakrishnan, Arul Muthukumar, Themavur Nandan, and Pudukai Pudhalvan were also involved in the field study.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Pondering Existential Question: Why Are We Here?
Since time immemorial, people have wondered about human existence . Galib laments, "I am doomed because of my existence, what would have happened if i didn't exist?" Individual existence may carry more emotional and personal concern, but it is the collective existence that has engaged religion, philosophy, and science. Religions see human existence as creation of God. Philosophers have attempted to substantiate God's existence through it. The classical argument of William Paley tries to prove the existence of God based on apparent design, complexity, and purpose in human organs, such as the eye. Modern arguments support the existence of God through the anthropic principle , which posits that the universe is finely tuned for human existence. The ultimate answer in theist religions and philosophies is the same: Human existence is God's creation. In the Indic context, religions such as Jainism, and philosophies including Sankhya and Mimansa, endeavour to answer the mystery of human existence in terms of eternal substance - atman, purusha, jiva, soul. Jiva takes human form in a cycle of birth and death due to karm and avidya. The basic scheme is as follows: the soul transmigrates between births due to ignorance and/or the karmic effect. Atheistic religions and philosophies, however, fail to answer why this cycle of birth and death started? How, for the first time, did the soul come into bondage to take birth? Atheistic Indic schools of thought attempt to sidestep this question by invoking the concept of anadi, a standard response to questions they are unable to answer. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo If atheistic religions and philosophies suffer from logical inconsistency, theists fare no better. Considering God as purn or self-sufficient, they fail to give any reason why God created humans? For example, Semitic religions believe that God created humans out of desire. As desire emanates from deficiency, accepting desire in this context would compromise the concept of purn God. Hinduism, being mindful of this problem, describes God's creation of humans as lila. Lila doesn't mean playfulness; it is anirvachniya - that which cannot be explained through speech. However clever this explanation may be, it does not suffice. Science, a late entrant to this debate, tries to explain human existence as an outcome of the blind and chance-based interplay of matter and forces resulting in chemical and biological development. Chemistry produced self-replicating complex molecules, which led to the emergence of life in single-cell organisms. Simpler life forms gradually developed into more complex life forms, including humans. According to mainstream science, human existence is just a contingent feature of the universe. There is no guarantee that, given another chance, the universe will again produce life and/or humans. Even after the best minds contemplating human existence for thousands of years, it remains largely unanswered to date. Many leading scientists, including Einstein, were not comfortable with the idea of the universe as an outcome of the blind and chance-based interplay of matter and forces. On the other hand, explaining human existence as God's creation or as anadi cycle resulting from the soul's bondage with matter has logical inconsistencies that many thinkers have accepted. In a world facing growing existential challenges, explaining human existence and acknowledging the value of life would always be of paramount importance. The future may have a better answer to why we exist. Authored by: The writer is joint secretary, GOI. Views are personal
India Today
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
10 years of Baahubali: How a colloquial title gave Rajamouli pan India blockbuster
Director SS Rajamouli's epic action-fantasy 'Baahubali: The Beginning' (2015) created a pan-India cinematic wave with its star-studded cast, high-octane action, grand VFX, visually-appealing set design and costumes. Apart from its commercial success, the film also shaped the approach of Indian inspirations and adaptations are not new to cinema, the film, starring Prabhas, Rana Daggubati and Anushka Shetty, had a long-lasting impact on filmmakers to recreate the spectacle for an enriching theatrical experience. The Rajamouli-directorial also sparked debate which continues till date about catering to audiences across geographical one often gets curious about what could be the secret sauce to making a true-blue blockbuster. There were many films from the South industry, be it Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam, that did well in their Hindi-dubbed satellite premieres. But never did a Tollywood film achieve such a milestone that even shook up the Hindi film from the universal story of good vs evil, obedient son and ideal leader, what else amplified the mammoth success of 'Baahubali: The Beginning'? As the film completes 10 years, here's a glimpse into what may have led to the origins of the cinematic does Baahubali mean?If one heard about 'Baahubali' in the pre-2015 era, there is a different perception regarding the term. One would often associate with a muscleman linked to the politics and power play in the Hindi belt, especially Uttar Pradesh and a significant period of time, movies like 'Gangaajal', 'Apaharan' and 'Omkara' often referred to political gangsters as Baahubali. Rajamouli's film redefined the rather grey expression into a heroic sudden shift among movie-goers in North India during the release of 'Baahubali: The Beginning', could possibly be attributed to their familiarity with the an intriguing trailer and promotions play an equal role in perception building, it cannot be denied how much buzz the film created pan-India. The reception of the sequel 'Baahubali: The Conclusion', which was released two years later indicates the story's connection with the trailer here: Is Baahubali based on a monk?Even though pop-culture may have its own references, the colloquial term is not just limited to politics or musclemen. In the 9th-century Sanskrit poem, 'Adipurana' about the first tirthankara (a saviour and supreme preacher in Jainism), Rishabhanatha, his two sons are named Bharata and Bahubali. It was composed by the Digambara monk is a revered figure in Jainism who is said to have meditated motionless for 12 years in a standing posture, with climbing plants having grown around his legs. After the completion of his meditation, he is said to have attained kevala jnana (omniscience).advertisementWhile the two mentions of terms in connection to politics and Jainsim may vary, it has a unique connection to Northern India. Baahubali, the son of Rishabhanatha got the city of Taxila and the kingdom of Gandhara (as per the vetmbara tradition) or Podanapur (as per the Digambara tradition).Baahubali later became a monk in Siddharta-garden, in the outskirts of Ayodhya, under Ashoka tree on the ninth day of the month of Chaitra Krishna (Hindu calendar).Baahubali: A warrior monk?Although the visual imagery of statues shown in Rajamouli's film has references to the monk Baahubali, the overall narrative linked to the protagonist may have a different interpretation. The physique, demeanour and towering presence of both Sivudu and Amarendra Baahubali (both played by Prabhas) reflect their chivalry, strength, heroism and messaging of the film reflects on the invincible persona of Sivudu and Amarendra by showing their physical toughness as valiant warriors. Although the protagonists do have a softer side to themselves and are always empathetic to the underprivileged, the machismo is the essence of 'Baahubali' blend of a selfless leader who cares for his people, a man who risks his life for the woman he loves, a son who defies tradition for his mother and a worthy crown prince resonated with audiences. The spiritual side of a monk and the valiant aspect of a muscleman, commonly associated with UP-Bihar politics, makes for a decent metaphor in a film rooted in Indian the term was used intentionally by director, screenplay writer Rajamouli and story writer V Vijayendra Prasad doesn't make a difference. What matters is how India's diverse landscape and cultural uniqueness helped in elevating the grand success of one of the most ambitious Tollywood video here: The success of 'Baahubali: The Beginning' created a benchmark for aspiring filmmakers and actors. The film fared well even though it was released a week before Salman Khan's 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan'. It gave a reality check of the changing patterns of movie viewership in to Hindi and Bhojpuri films, which often depict a Baahubali as an anti-hero or a villain, Prabhas's portrayal brought back the soul of Indian culture. Rajamouli's vision re-introduced a hero whose ethics and values resonated with Lord Ram, Lord Krishna and Lord Hanuman. A protagonist who showcased the valour of Arjun and Bheem from Ved Vyas's 'Mahabharat'.advertisement'Baahubali: The Beginning,' living up to its title, ushered in a new era in Indian filmmaking, with grand narratives akin to those in 'Chandamama' and other ancient or medieval folklore finding immense resonance among of its influences on storytelling and movie productions, the film remains a testament to envisioning independent ideas and culturally-rooted cinema.- Ends
