Potato Center Agra: On the initiative of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, CSARC center will be built in Singana village of Agra at a cost of Rs 111.50 crore. Global research will be done on tuber crops including potato, sweet potato. UP will become Aloo Innovation Hub of South Asia.
South asia potato hub up: A new revolution is going to begin on the land of Uttar Pradesh. The vision of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the establishment of South Asia Regional Center (CSARC) of CIP (International Potato Center) in Singana village of Agra under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The central government has approved ₹ 111.50 crore for this project.
On Tuesday, a delegation led by Dr. Simone Hek, Director General of CIP Peru met Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and discussed the progress of the project. The delegation included CIP Country Manager Neeraj Sharma, Raman Abrol, Senior Advisor, South Asia and IRRI (IRRI) South Asia chief Sudhanshu Singh.
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What will be the focus of this CSARC center?
- World class research on potato, sweet potato and other tuber crops
- Seed innovation and development of high quality varieties
- Apical rooted cutting, insect management and germplasm protection
- Training and technical assistance for farmers
This initiative will strengthen Uttar Pradesh’s global identity
The delegation led by Dr. Simone Hek, Director General of CIP Peru, met the Chief Minister. He said that CSARC center will not only make UP the potato innovation hub of South Asia but will also increase the income of farmers.
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Important to increase farmers’ income: Yogi Adityanath
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that CSARC will now complete the lack of seeds and processingable varieties. CM Yogi said that till the CSARC is fully established, farmers should be trained with the technology of CIP through Krishi Vigyan Kendras. Chief Minister Yogi said that this center will play an important role in increasing the income of farmers of the state, empowering the processing industry and making the state an international agricultural hub. He told the delegation that Uttar Pradesh is the largest potato producing state in the country. In the year 2024-25, 244 lakh metric tonnes of potatoes were produced in an area of 6.96 lakh hectare. UP accounts for 35% of the total potato production of the country. Potato is cultivated in 76 thousand hectares in Agra district alone. About 40% of potato production in UP goes for marketing in other states. Despite such a huge production capacity, there was a lack of quality seeds and processingable varieties. Now CSARC will remove this challenge.
UP: The country’s largest potato producing state
- 244 lakh metric tonnes of potato production (2024-25)
- 35% national contribution, 76 thousand hectares in Agra alone
- 40% potato production goes to other states
CIP will cooperate with many institutions
CIP will cooperate with many of the country’s famous institutions ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research), State Agricultural University, private agricultural companies, local farmers and agricultural science centers.