Who’s in focus. In this exclusive Potatoes.News interview, S.K. Gautam (SK Gautam)—CEO of Survir Agritech Pvt. Ltd.—explains how the company is scaling aeroponic seed-potato production in India and why it’s seeking partners in Europe, Russia, and Africa.
Who is Survir Agritech
- Origins: the project is backed by a group linked to cold-storage assets in Gujarat (PK Cold Storage).
Production site: Sitarganj, Udham Singh Nagar district, Uttarakhand. - Capacity: target output of 25 million aeroponic mini-tubers per year, with room to expand.
- Portfolio: Indian table and processing varieties; contract production to match partner needs.
Why aeroponics
“In aeroponics the roots ‘breathe’: higher oxygen availability, better water and nutrient use, size control, and lower disease pressure.”
- Per-plant output: industrially ~40–50 mini-tubers per plant (far above cocopeat/soil systems).
- Speed: with speed-breeding approaches, multiple cycles per season are feasible.
- Scale & hygiene: closed processes deliver predictable volumes and quality.
India’s seed market: size matters
- India is #2 worldwide in seed potatoes, with strong unmet demand for high-quality seed.
- 32 agro-climatic zones allow field testing and multiplication of nearly any ecotype.
- Model for breeding companies:
— confidential, turnkey aeroponic multiplication of proprietary varieties;
— rapid return of mini-tuber/early-generation seed to the client. - Market precedents include collaborations by global brands with Indian partners (e.g., ZPC–Mahindra, Technico, and others).
Cold infrastructure & quality
- In Gujarat, part of cold-storage capacity is booked by processors, part is allocated to G2–G4 seed for farmers.
- Mini-tubers are stored at the production facility; later generations are stored closer to growers.
- Silo, bag, and box storage formats are used to meet customer specs.
The French-fry challenge: new leaders needed
- India’s fries segment is expanding fast (new multinational plants in Uttar Pradesh and beyond).
- Santana is today’s benchmark, but reports note yield/health decline in some regions;
Friome (CPRI) and Innovator (via Mahindra–ZPC) are under trials. The market needs a portfolio of options—
stable color/DM, yield, and resilience—rather than dependence on a single variety.
Exports: logistics & phytosanitary
- Mini-tubers ship primarily by air cargo; phytosanitary certificates are processed through competent authorities (incl. CPRI/quarantine).
- Expansion focus: Africa (notably Egypt and other processing-growth markets), plus partnerships in Russia and China.
- Europe is more saturated, but targeted collaborations remain possible.
Five-year outlook: “India will feed the world with processed potato”
“We have land, trained growers, rising processing and export capacity. We’re confident India can feed the world with processed potatoes—fries, chips, flakes, and powders.”
- Production centers are shifting: West Bengal is gaining share, Bihar is growing, Uttar Pradesh is rebalancing.
- Several states report high dry matter, critical for processing.
Key numbers & takeaways
- 25 million mini-tubers/year — Survir Agritech’s current target.
- 40–50 mini-tubers/plant in aeroponics (industrial norm).
- India’s seed market — #2 globally; quality seed remains in short supply.
- Fries segment needs new varieties (stable color/DM, yield, resilience); diversify beyond a single leader.
- Mini-tuber exports move by air; phytosanitary is procedurally established.
- International growth lanes: Africa, Russia, China.
Quote
“We can rapidly multiply your varieties under NDA and return mini-tuber lots on short timelines. Aeroponics means speed, cleanliness, and tight size control.”
