Copyright infringement not intended

Picture Courtesy:  OPINDIA

Context:

The Union Cabinet approved a proposal from the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare to establish the International Potato Centre (CIP)’s South Asia Regional Centre (CSARC) at Agra, Uttar Pradesh.

About the International Potato Centre (CIP)

Founded in 1971, the CIP's core mission is to deliver innovative science-based solutions for potato, sweetpotato, and other Andean root and tuber crops.

It aims to enhance access to nutritious food, promote inclusive business growth, and improve the climate resilience of these agricultural systems.

Global Affiliation => It is a research center under CGIAR (formerly the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research), which is a global partnership dedicated to transforming food, land, and water systems to address the climate crisis and ensure a food-secure future. This association connects CIP to a vast network of international expertise and resources.

Headquarters => While its headquarters is in Lima, Peru—the ancestral home of the potato—CIP maintains a research presence in over 20 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Indian Potato Sector

Production and Consumption => India is the world's second-largest producer and consumer of potatoes, making the crop vital for both the national economy and food security.

Key Growing States => Uttar Pradesh being the largest, followed by West Bengal, Bihar, Gujarat, and Punjab.  

Existing National Research Institutions => India already has a strong domestic research framework under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

• ICAR-CPRI, Shimla: The Central Potato Research Institute in Shimla is the premier national institute dedicated solely to potato research.
• ICAR-CTCRI, Thiruvananthapuram: The Central Tuber Crops Research Institute focuses on other tuber crops, including sweet potato.

Significance of Establishing the South Asia Regional Centre in India

For India

Access to Global Germplasm => Indian farmers and scientists will gain easier access to CIP's vast global repository of genetic material, which includes thousands of potato and sweetpotato varieties with diverse traits like disease resistance, drought tolerance, and higher nutritional value.

Accelerated Development of New Varieties => Collaboration with CIP will fast-track the development of climate-resilient and high-yielding potato varieties tailored to Indian agro-climatic conditions.

Boost to the Food Processing Industry => Improved varieties with desirable traits (e.g., low sugar content) will benefit India's growing food processing sector, particularly the manufacturing of chips and other potato-based products.

Enhanced Farmer Income => Higher yields and more resilient crops will lead to increased income and livelihood security for millions of smallholder farmers.

For the South Asia Region

India as a Research Hub => The center in Agra will function as a hub for the entire South Asia region, including countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka.

Regional Technology Transfer => Innovations and improved crop varieties developed at the center will be disseminated across the region, addressing common challenges related to food security and climate change.

Source: 

PIB