A Promising Venture to Boost Potato and Sweet Potato Cultivation Across South Asia
India is set to establish its own CIP-South Asia Regional Centre (CIP-SARC) in Agra District, Uttar Pradesh, marking a significant step in enhancing potato and sweet potato cultivation in the region. The initiative follows China’s establishment of a similar center under the International Potato Center (CIP) seven years ago.
The new facility aims to benefit farmers from major potato-producing states like West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh, while also extending its support to other South Asian countries. The Indian Express reports that discussions between Peru and India have paved the way for this endeavor, pending formal approval from India’s Union Cabinet and the Committee on Establishment Expenditure.
Under the proposed agreement, India will contribute USD 13 million towards the USD 20 million project cost, with CIP covering the remaining expenses. The Uttar Pradesh government has allocated ten hectares of land for the center, which will focus on developing disease-resistant and climate-resilient varieties of potatoes and sweet potatoes suitable for both consumption and processing.
The CIP-SARC will leverage CIP’s extensive genetic resources, collaborative networks, and global scientific expertise to achieve its objectives. This includes advancing research in agricultural technologies that can enhance productivity and sustainability in potato farming across the region.
India, the world’s second-largest producer of potatoes after China, underscores the strategic importance of this regional hub in fostering agricultural innovation and addressing food security challenges in South Asia. With Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Bihar leading national potato production, the new center is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of potato cultivation and processing technologies.
