What is a Purple Potato in India? Kufri Jamunia

Kufri Jamunia is a purple-fleshed potato officially released in 2024 by ICAR-CPRI. It has more vitamin C, zinc, iron, and antioxidants than a common potato, and it can help fight hidden hunger.

Kufri Jamunia: India’s First Biofortified Purple Potato, Developed by ICAR-CPRI

1. Kufri Jamunia was developed by the Central Potato Research Institute under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR-CPRI). 
2. It follows Kufri Neelkanth (2018), India’s first purple-skinned specialty potato.
3. Kufri Manik (2021), a red-skinned potato. Jamunia has higher vitamin C, anthocyanins, and carotenoids than both.

What Are the Key Features of Kufri Jamunia?

1. Appearance: Dark purple skin, purple flesh, oblong tubers with shallow eyes and a mealy texture.
2. Plant type: Medium-maturing, with medium-tall plants and 10-12 medium to large tubers per plant.
3. Yield: 32-35 tonnes per hectare under recommended practices, and about 49 tonnes per hectare in 90-day station trials.
4. Marketable produce: Nearly 90% of the harvest in trials.
5. Storage: Dormancy of 6-8 weeks, with low rotting and minimal weight loss.

Key Nutritional Components in Kufri Jamunia

1. Anthocyanins: 42.05 mg/100 g in flesh and 80.66 mg/100 g in skin
2. Carotenoids: About 161 µg/100 g in flesh
3. Zinc and iron: About 22.77 ppm and 32.23 ppm in flesh

States Suitable for Kufri Jamunia Cultivation

The variety is recommended for the North Indian plains after stable results in multi-location trials. According to the ICAR map, suitable states are Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand (plains), Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha and Assam.

How do colored potatoes help address hidden hunger?

Hidden hunger occurs when people eat enough calories but lack vitamins and minerals. Biofortification tackles this by breeding crops with higher nutrient levels, unlike fortification, which adds nutrients during processing. It is a sustainable and low-cost method, and it supports long-term nutritional security.

Coloured potatoes (red, purple and blue) get their colour from natural pigments such as anthocyanins and carotenoids. They are rich in antioxidants and in micronutrients like iron and zinc. Because potatoes are widely eaten, a nutrient-rich variety like Kufri Jamunia can improve diets, and its purple colour gives it strong consumer appeal.