In a move aimed at improving productivity in tuber crops and strengthening regional agri research capacity, Indian government has approved a proposal to establish the South Asia Regional Research Centre of the International Potato Center (CIP) in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. The potato research centre will be set up at Singna village in Agra district, with an investment of INR 111.5 crore (approximately US$ 13 million) from the Indian government and INR 60 crore (US$ 6.98 million) from CIP. The facility will focus on boosting food and nutrition security, farmer incomes and employment generation through advances in potato and sweet potato farming.
The proposal was submitted by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. As part of the project implementation, the Uttar Pradesh government has allocated 10 acres (approximately 4 hectares) of land in Agra for the establishment of the research centre. The potato research centre will be developed in collaboration with the International Potato Center (CIP), which is headquartered in Lima, Peru. The total project cost stands at INR 171 crore, with the majority of the funding coming from the Government of India.
Mandate and Research Priorities of the Centre
The proposed potato research centre will work on developing high yielding, nutrient rich, and climate resilient varieties of potato and sweet potato. These varieties will be tailored to meet both domestic and regional needs, not only addressing productivity gaps in India but also serving agricultural systems in neighbouring South Asian countries. The research facility will concentrate on key areas such as advanced seed production techniques, pest and disease management, sustainable and ecofriendly farming practices, and capacity building through farmer training programmes.
In addition to improving yield and resilience, the potato research centre will also support the creation of value chains through the promotion of post harvest management and processing capabilities. This includes innovations in packaging, transportation and marketing, aimed at reducing losses and improving the shelf life and marketability of tuber crops.
Enhancing Domestic Capacity and Reducing Import Dependence
India’s average potato yield is currently 25 tonnes per hectare, which is significantly lower than its potential of over 50 tonnes per hectare. One of the primary causes of this shortfall is the limited availability of high quality seeds. Similarly, sweet potato yields in India average just 11.5 tonnes per hectare, while the potential stands at approximately 30 tonnes. The research centre aims to address this gap by supporting domestic seed production and making advanced genetic resources more accessible to Indian farmers.
By strengthening seed systems and improving crop resilience, the research centre is expected to reduce India’s dependence on seed imports from neighbouring countries. It will also provide India access to CIP’s extensive germplasm collection and global innovation network, which includes both genetic material and best practices in crop management developed through decades of international research.
Strategic Importance in the Global Context
Globally, the potato is the third most consumed food crop after rice and wheat. Sweet potato ranks sixth, following maize and cassava. India is currently the second largest producer of potatoes. In 2020, India produced 51.30 million tonnes of potatoes, while China’s output stood at 78.24 million tonnes. Together, the two countries accounted for over one third of the global potato production, which totaled 359.07 million tonnes. Within India, the leading potato producing states are Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, both recording an annual output of 15 million tonnes, followed by Bihar with nine million tonnes. Other key contributing states include Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab.
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Despite the high production figures, India’s average yields lag behind international benchmarks due to constraints in seed quality and agronomic practices. The Agra based centre aims to bridge this productivity gap and support export ambitions by making Indian potato and sweet potato products more competitive in international markets. This is expected to facilitate greater investments in food processing industries and enhance the scope for value addition.
The establishment of the South Asia regional research centre at Agra marks the second major international expansion for the International Potato Center outside Peru. The Agra facility, formally named the CIP South Asia Regional Center (CSARC), will serve India’s potato belt, comprising Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, as well as other South Asian countries.
The establishment of the new centre in Agra will complement and expand this existing institutional network, offering a global research perspective and infrastructure to support India’s food security goals.
Political and Administrative Support
The initiative received active backing from the Uttar Pradesh government. The Cabinet’s decision to move forward with the project underscores intergovernmental collaboration and reflects a shared vision to unlock the economic and nutritional potential of tuber crops in India and South Asia. By consolidating scientific expertise, regional coordination and infrastructural support, the CIP South Asia Regional Center is expected to play a central role in addressing long standing productivity and value chain challenges associated with potato and sweet potato cultivation in the region.