In a decision that is going to revolutionise India’s sweet potato and potato industries, the Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given approval to the creation of the South Asia Regional Centre (CSARC) of the International Potato Centre (CIP) in Singna, Agra. This move is set to enhance food and nutritional security, enhance farmer incomes, and create massive-scale rural employment through the promotion of innovation in the cultivation of root and tuber crops.
The International Potato Centre is a research institution based in Lima, Peru, which is globally acclaimed for enhancing livelihoods and food systems through potato, sweet potato, and root crop research. The launch of CSARC in India represents a crucial milestone in the country’s journey to become the world leader in tuber crop innovation and productivity.
The CSARC will serve as a state-of-the-art centre for research, seed development, post-harvest technologies, and capacity building for farmers. The Uttar Pradesh government has gifted 10 hectares of land at no cost to the centre in Singna village, Agra district. Rs 111 crore will be invested in establishing the centre by the Union Government through the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
India is the second-largest producer of potatoes globally after China, producing approximately 60 million tonnes per year. Uttar Pradesh alone produces nearly 30 percent of the entire country’s potato production, which makes Agra a suitable site for such an institution.
Experts say that India is moving towards becoming the world’s largest potato producer by overtaking China. India’s output may reach 100 million tonnes by 2050, according to scientists from Peru-based CIP, if proper investments in research, productivity, and value addition are undertaken.
Addressing a recent international symposium on root and tuber crops held on May 20, in New Delhi, the CIP Board Chairperson, Dr. Helen Hambly Odame, stressed that the centre would be a launching pad for scaling up innovation in South Asia.
“India is capable of emerging as the world’s leading potato producer. With the assistance of institutions such as CIP, India can not only satisfy the internal demand but also become a significant player in the global value chain,” she noted.
Dr. Odame also emphasised the potential of root and tuber crops to foster climate resilience, enhance nutrition, and promote water-efficient agriculture. She pointed out that the underappreciated sweet potato has enormous potential for rural income diversification and women’s empowerment.
The research center will also collaborate closely with public and private institutions, farmer-producer organisations, and cooperative networks in order to bring scientific advances to the grassroots agricultural practices.
The centre will use world-class science to revolutionise the entire value chain from production to processing, packaging, transportation, and marketing, as per the Cabinet-approved proposal. This should have a ripple effect of employment, primarily among rural youth and women.
Government’s Vision for Agri-led Growth
Union Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi, while addressing the symposium, emphasised that India’s model of agricultural growth needs to address food, income, and nutrition security in the face of climate change realities. “This is where the sweet potato and potato industry can become a game-changer. Science and innovation investment will propel the next generation of farm transformation,” he added.
He underlined the need for more collaborative studies on the area of tuber crops, especially on enhancing seed systems and climate resilience through enhanced agronomy.
NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand also endorsed the government’s belief that agriculture is still the key driver of India’s development model. “By making agriculture an active driver of the economy instead of a passive recipient of growth, we are affirming the contribution of farmers and farming innovations to our national vision,” he said.
Strategic Implications for South Asia
Aside from national objectives, the launch of CSARC also indicates India’s increasing leadership position in regional agricultural cooperation. The centre is envisioned to be a hub for South Asia, involving the exchange of knowledge, seed swapping, and training activities for researchers and farmers from countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Pakistan.
The project will assist in the development of sustainable regional food systems and in pursuing the common agenda of agricultural sustainability with shifting climate conditions. The project will also enhance regional food security and trade in processed potato products, seed potatoes, and value-added products.
Empowering Farmers Through Innovation
The Agra CSARC is not only envisioned as a scientific centre but also as an agent for rural renewal. From farmer-oriented training, community-based seed production, to sustainable agriculture models, the centre will empower marginal farmers and smallholders.
Experts opine that such institutions will also promote entrepreneurship in the form of new value chain prospects, i.e., food processing, frozen foods, and starch industries. Owing to the increasing urban demand for convenience foods, processed potato products such as fries, chips, and flakes have emerged as top drivers of market growth.
In addition, sweet potatoes, which have the potential to be used more in Indian diets, have been known to be rich in nutrients. They could be very important in addressing malnutrition and improving incomes with proper promotion and placement in public nutrition programs.
The approval of the South Asia Regional Centre of the International Potato Centre by the Cabinet indicates the long-term commitment to bringing science, sustainability, and scalability into Indian agriculture. The project merges international expertise with local significance, and it is in consonance with India’s larger vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat.
By concentrating on innovation in one of India’s most significant food crops, such a program could be a model for future public-private research partnerships in other areas of Indian agriculture. It is a strategic and timely move towards creating a robust, inclusive, and prosperous rural economy.
