India is set to become a global potato powerhouse as the Union Cabinet, led by PM Narendra Modi, has greenlit the establishment of the South Asia Regional Centre of the International Potato Centre (CIP) in Singna, Agra.
This cutting-edge research hub, often dubbed “India’s Potato Lab”, will focus on:
High-yield, climate-resilient potato & sweet potato varieties
Sustainable farming practices
Integrated pest management
Post-harvest innovation and value addition
The Uttar Pradesh government has allocated 10 hectares of land free of cost, while the Centre will invest Rs 111 crore through the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
With India being the world’s second-largest potato producer, the centre is poised to:
Enhance food and nutrition security
Improve farmer incomes
Create employment in production, packaging, and marketing
Strengthen India’s position in the global potato economy
Uttar Pradesh alone contributes nearly 30% of India’s potato output, followed by West Bengal and Bihar—making this a strategic move for both regional and national agri-development.
