The renowned International Potato Center (CIP) based in Peru is set to launch a new regional center in India, catering to farmers not only in key potato-growing states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal but also across other South Asian countries.
After a seven-year gap since China welcomed a regional center of CIP, India is now poised to host the CIP-South Asia Regional Centre (CIP-SARC), anticipated to be located in Agra.
The proposal for establishing CIP-SARC has found a place on the 100-day agenda of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, in preparation for the upcoming government formation post-June 4.
Negotiations between officials from India and Peru have been successfully concluded, with plans to sign a formal agreement pending approval from the Union Cabinet.
The anticipated project is estimated to cost $20 million (approximately Rs 160 crore), with India contributing $13 million (Rs 108 crore) and the remainder financed by CIP. The Uttar Pradesh government has pledged to allocate 10 hectares for the proposed center.
CIP-SARC aims to focus on developing climate-resilient, disease-resistant potato and sweet potato varieties suitable for processing. It will leverage global scientific expertise, an extensive innovation network, and genetic resources to advance agricultural research in the region.
In a strategic move, following the establishment of its first Asia center in China in 2017, CIP is expanding its presence into India, a significant agricultural hub in the region.
The proposed CIP-SARC will mark a significant addition to international agricultural research in India, following the establishment of a regional center of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Varanasi in 2017, supported by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Drawing parallels with the success of IRRI-SARC, a source highlighted the potential of CIP-SARC to enhance agricultural research and development in the country, aligning with global best practices.
Presently, India is home to two key research centers under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) focusing on tuber crops. While ICAR-CPRI in Shimla specializes in potato research, ICAR-CTCRI in Thiruvananthapuram is dedicated to sweet potato research. The addition of CIP-SARC is poised to further strengthen India’s agricultural research landscape, particularly in the domain of tuber crops.
