Central Government today, July 28, 2025, signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the International Potato Center (CIP) to establish the South Asia Regional Centre of CIP (CSARC) in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. The agreement was signed by Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), and Dr. Simon Heck, Director General of CIP, following the Union Cabinet's approval granted earlier this year.
The centre, to be located at Singna in Agra, is expected to play a critical role in strengthening food and nutritional security, increasing farmers' incomes, and creating employment through improved potato and sweet potato cultivation. The initiative will focus on developing high-yielding, climate-resilient, and nutrient-rich varieties, while also promoting better post-harvest practices and value addition.
Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had approved the proposal on June 25, 2025. The project will be implemented in collaboration with the Government of Uttar Pradesh and international partners. Central Government will provide financial assistance of Rs 111.5 crore for the establishment of the centre, while Uttar Pradesh Government has allocated 10 hectares of land free of cost.
India is the world’s second-largest producer of potatoes, with Uttar Pradesh being the top-producing state. The CSARC aims to harness this potential by driving advanced research and development in potato and sweet potato farming.
The new centre will work closely with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), state agencies, and global partners to develop technologies that improve seed quality, pest management, and sustainable farming methods. It will also train farmers in modern techniques aimed at increasing productivity and reducing post-harvest losses.
