Today on June 25, 2025, Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a proposal by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare to establish the South Asia Regional Centre (CSARC) of the International Potato Centre (CIP) in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
New centre is aimed at enhancing food and nutritional security, increasing farmers' incomes, and generating employment by improving the productivity of potato and sweet potato crops, strengthening post-harvest management, and promoting value addition.
India is the world’s second-largest producer of potatoes, with Uttar Pradesh being the top potato-producing state. Tapping into this potential, the CSARC will be set up at Singna in Agra. Uttar Pradesh government has provided 10 hectares of land free of cost for the project. The Centre will extend financial support of Rs 111.5 crore and will work in coordination with the state government and international agencies to implement the initiative.
Officials said the CSARC will focus on the development of high-yielding, climate-resilient, and nutrient-rich varieties of potato and sweet potato. Research at the centre will also cover seed production, pest management, sustainable production practices, and farmer training. These efforts are expected to help farmers adopt global best practices, boost crop yields, and reduce post-harvest losses.
The government views this as a key step towards modernising India’s agri-food sector and establishing the country as a regional leader in potato innovation.
Centre is expected to create new rural employment opportunities and strengthen livelihoods by unlocking the sector’s potential across processing, packaging, transport, and marketing.
