Agra, June 18 (IANS) After successfully clearing stringent quality tests, a consignment of potatoes from Agra was sent to Singapore Wednesday. Surjeet Singh, director of the Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, green-signalled the first dispatch from Fatehabad sub-district in the presence of local politicians and officials.

Singh said Agra potatoes were found to be of better quality than those from other areas including China. Potato consignments to other destinations like Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Mauritius will be sent later.

Agra-based firm Agrotek International has received an order for supply of 500 tonnes from a Singapore firm. The order is to be executed in three months. The first lot will reach Singapore from Mumbai June 25.

Singh told reporters that there was a possibility of setting up potato processing units in Agra.

“Some villages in Agra are likely to be identified as the potato seed production villages,” he said.

Last year, the area under potato cultivation in Agra increased to over 34,000 hectares from 28,000 hectares earlier.