The International Potato Center (IPC) in Lima, Peru, is set to establish a branch in Agra, with an investment of around Rs 120 crore over a 10-hectare site. This branch is opened at the initiative of the Government of Uttar Pradesh, with the support of the Central Government.

Notably, potatoes are part of the central government’s pilot project to export a selection of vegetables and fruits via sea routes and their cultivation promises significant prosperity to farmers in the potato-producing regions of the state.

Uttar Pradesh being the largest potato producer in the country, with double cropping practiced in several districts like Kannauj and Farrukhabad, farmers of the state are set to reap maximum benefits from this initiative.

Potatoes are a staple of Indian cuisine, making them essential in any vegetable-based dish. Although they are generally affordable year-round, their high demand sometimes leads to shortages that attract media attention. The introduction of profitable maritime exports is expected to stabilize supply, thereby reducing these shortages and related concerns.

Right from the start, the Yogi Adityanath government has shown strong commitment to addressing the challenges of potato farmers. During his first term, Chief Minister Yogi implemented the Market Intervention Scheme to support farmers facing economic slowdown – a first in the state’s history.

Since then, the government has consistently taken measures to promote the welfare of potato farmers, including providing high-quality seeds at fixed prices, suited to the local agricultural climate.

Moreover, at the start of his second term, the chief minister announced several initiatives, including plans to set up centers of excellence for potatoes in Hapur and Kushinagar. Transparent permitting processes for cold storage facilities, as well as the development of mega food parks and processing clusters, are also underway, reflecting rapid progress in improving value-added storage and processing capabilities .

These strategic efforts, supported by the central and state governments, are transforming the potato sector in Uttar Pradesh, ensuring sustainable growth and prosperity for farmers.

The establishment of international and domestic centers will greatly benefit the farmers of Uttar Pradesh, the major potato producing state of the country. Neighboring states like Bihar and West Bengal, as well as other potato-producing countries in South Asia, will also benefit significantly.

The CIP center in Agra will provide access to high-quality potato seeds, leading to better agricultural yields and increased income of farmers. Additionally, it will address the shortage of potato seeds and focus on developing highly productive and processable potato varieties.

Farmers will have the opportunity to learn advanced potato cultivation techniques, thereby improving their productivity. While Uttar Pradesh leads the country in total potato production, West Bengal surpasses it in per hectare yield, producing 29.9 metric tonnes compared to UP’s 25.48 metric tonnes . Closing this productivity gap becomes more achievable through dedicated research centers.

Although potato cultivation is present in all districts, the major commercial centers are Kannauj, Farrukhabad, Agra, Firozabad, Mathura, Aligarh, Meerut, Bulandshahr, Bareilly, Lucknow and Barabanki.