Recognising the critical role of the potato in global and Indian food security, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the establishment of a regional wing of the International Potato Center (CIP) in India.
This South Asia Regional Center (CSARC) will be located in Singna, Agra district, Uttar Pradesh—a region at the heart of India’s potato belt.
This landmark move reinforces the growing national and global recognition of the potato as one of the world’s most essential food crops.
Often underestimated, the potato ranks third globally in terms of food availability, trailing only rice and wheat. Sweet potato follows in sixth place, after maize and cassava.
Together, they are critical in addressing hunger, ensuring nutritional security, and creating livelihoods for millions of farmers.
Founded in 1971 in Lima, Peru—the native region of the potato—the CIP is a world-renowned research-for-development institution focused on potatoes, sweet potatoes, and Andean roots and tubers.
The potato itself originated in the Peruvian-Bolivian Andes and has since become a staple worldwide, including in India, where it was introduced in the 17th century.
The establishment of the CIP-South Asia Regional Center (CSARC) in Agra represents a strategic effort to uplift India’s potato and sweet potato sectors.
The center will serve not only farmers in major Indian potato-growing states—such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal—but also provide research and innovation support to the broader South Asian region.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, recognising the economic and agricultural significance of the crop, had earlier written to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, urging swift action to bring the crop to fruition.
With an overall project cost of ₹171 crore—₹111.5 crore contributed by India and ₹60 crore by CIP, the center is poised to become a hub for cutting-edge research, innovation, and development in potato and sweet potato cultivation. The UP government has provided 10 hectares of land for the initiative.
Why the Potato Crop Matters
Potatoes are more than just a dietary staple.
They are one of the most versatile, resilient, and widely consumed crops in the world. In India, the crop supports livelihoods for millions of farmers and plays a major role in rural incomes, food processing industries, and even exports.
Despite being the world’s second-largest potato producer after China, India’s average yield is significantly lower than its full potential, standing at 25 tonnes per hectare compared to a possible 50+ tonnes.
The productivity of sweet potato is even lower, at around 11.5 tonnes per hectare against a potential of 30 tonnes.
The new regional center aims to bridge this productivity gap through:
- Development of climate-resilient and disease-resistant varieties
- Promotion of modern post-harvest technologies and value addition
- Strengthening of domestic seed production, reducing reliance on imported seed stock
- Enhancing export potential by raising quality standards and global competitiveness
According to officials, CSARC will grant Indian researchers and farmers access to CIP’s vast global collection of germplasm (genetic material), cutting-edge scientific expertise, and a vast innovation network that spans continents.
A Step Toward Global Leadership in Potato Innovation
India’s potato output reached 51.30 million tonnes in 2020, with Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal leading production at 15 million tonnes each, followed by Bihar at 9 million tonnes. With the support of CSARC, these regions are expected to unlock even greater productivity and market potential.
This development follows in the footsteps of a similar CIP center established in Beijing, China, in 2017—the China Center for Asia Pacific (CCCAP)—which caters to East Asia and the Pacific. The Agra-based CSARC will now serve as the corresponding hub for South Asia.
CSARC is also the second major international agricultural research institution to establish its presence in India after the International Rice Research Institute’s (IRRI) South Asia Regional Centre, which began operations in Varanasi in 2017.
Supporting India’s Food Security and Farmer Prosperity
The establishment of CSARC is a timely intervention in India’s agricultural landscape. With growing concerns around climate change, crop resilience, and food affordability, potato and sweet potato have emerged as vital components in both nutrition and economic strategies.
This center will not only help Indian farmers increase yield and reduce losses but also help tap into international markets by raising the quality and scalability of India’s tuber crop sector.
The value chain improvements—from seed to shelf—are expected to attract investments in food processing and create new employment opportunities.
Ultimately, the CSARC represents a major step forward in turning India from a major producer to a global leader in potato research, innovation, and export, solidifying the importance of this humble tuber in the country’s agricultural future.