Centre Approves International Potato Centre's South Asia Hub in Agra

The central government has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to establish a South Asian Centre of the International Potato Centre in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. The Centre is expected to meet the needs and demands of the major potato growing belt in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal, as well as the neighbouring South Asian countries.

South Asia Regional Centre at Singna, Agra

The South Asian Centre will be set up on a 10-hectare site at Singna in the Agra district of Uttar Pradesh. 

The Uttar Pradesh government has provided the land at no cost for this purpose.

The total investment in the project is around Rs 120 crore  

Objective of the Centre 

• The centre will provide access to a high-yield variety of potatoes and sweet potatoes of quality, which will increase potato yields and farmers' incomes.
• It will address the shortage of high-quality, climate-resilient potato seeds,
• It will develop processable potato varieties that can be used in the food processing industry.
• It will train farmers in advanced potato cultivation and post-harvest management, boosting their income.

About Potatoes and India 

Potato, scientific name Solanum tuberosum, is a tuber (an underground stem).

It is a native of the Andes in South America and was introduced by the Portuguese to India during the early 17th century.

It is known as the king of vegetables and is the fourth most important crop in India, after rice, wheat, and maize.

Production of Potatoes in India 

According to the second advance estimate for the Horticulture crops, released by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare on 25 May 2025, 

The total potato production in the countries is estimated to be 601.75 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, an increase of 31.21 lakh tonnes compared to 2023-24.

The potato production in 2023-24 was - 570.54 lakh tonnes.

After China, India is the world's second-largest producer of potatoes.

The top potato-producing state in India

1. Uttar Pradesh
2. West Bengal 
3. Bihar 

Productivity 

• The highest productivity in potatoes was recorded in West Bengal, at 29.9 metric tons per hectare.

Potato Research Institute in India 

• The Potato Research Centre was set up by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in Patna, Bihar, in 1949.
• Its headquarters were shifted to Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, in 1956.
• It is the premier research centre on potatoes in India.

About the  International Potato Centre 

The International Potato Centre was established by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) in 1971.

The Centre conducts research and development on potato, sweet potato and Andean roots and tubers.

It focuses on providing innovative, science-based solutions to enhance farmers' access to affordable, nutritious food, foster inclusive and sustainable business and employment growth, and drive climate resilience in root and tuber agri-food systems.

Headquarters - Lima, Peru