The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal from the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare to establish the South Asia Regional Centre (CSARC) of the International Potato Centre (CIP) in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
This significant move aims to enhance food and nutritional security, boost farmers’ incomes, and create employment opportunities through improved potato and sweet potato productivity, better post-harvest management, and value addition. The upcoming centre will be located in Singna, Agra, and is expected to play a transformative role in the potato sector.
India’s potato industry holds substantial potential to generate jobs across various segments, including production, processing, packaging, transportation, marketing, and the broader agricultural value chain. Recognizing this opportunity, the new CSARC will serve as a hub for advanced research and innovation tailored to the needs of South Asia.
The centre will focus on developing high-yielding, climate-resilient, and nutrient-rich varieties of potato and sweet potato. These innovations are expected to significantly contribute to sustainable agricultural development, not only within India but across the broader South Asian region.
