A Landmarked Gathering for India’s Potato Powerhouse held On International Potato Day, May 30, 2025
On International Potato Day, May 30, 2025, a pivotal event unfolded in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, bound to help in reshaping the trajectory of potato cultivation in India. Hosted by Kisan Tak, the digital agriculture platform from the Aaj Tak India Today Group, the Aloo Adhiveshan 2025 brought together a diverse array of stakeholders at the Mercury Auditorium, Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Gomti Nagar. Entirely dedicated to the humble yet powerful potato, the summit served as a dynamic platform for celebrating innovation, advocating for policy reforms, and empowering the nation’s potato farmers.
Leading up to the physical event, Kisan Tak offered an innovative digital preview on www.kisantak.in, allowing interested individuals to virtually immerse themselves in the atmosphere, described as capturing the aroma of tea, the buzz of farmers’ discussions, and the collective hope for a better future.
The day’s agenda was meticulously structured to encompass both high-level policy discussions and practical, farmer-centric workshops. The proceedings commenced with a welcoming address, setting a collaborative tone. Dr. Sanjay Kumar Singh, Director General of UPCAR, delivered the early morning opening remarks, emphsizing the vital significance of potatoes within the landscape of Indian agriculture. Following this, Shri Dinesh Pratap Singh, the Hon’ble Minister of Horticulture, delivered an inspiring inaugural speech moderated by Shweta Jha, sharing his vision for boosting potato productivity and improving the welfare of farmers.
Morning sessions featured significant expert participation. A key panel discussion, moderated by Om Prakash, Editor at Kisan Tak, included experts such as Dr. Dhruv Kumar from ICAR-CPRI and Arvind Agarwal from the Cold Storage Association UP. This panel delved into essential strategies aimed at enhancing productivity and mitigating post-harvest losses in potato farming. Special addresses were also delivered by Dr Deepak Kumar, Agriculture Production Commissioner, and Manoj Kumar Singh, Chief Secretary, who articulated the aspirations and needs of the potato farming community. Further scientific discussions were led by Dr Anand Singh, Vice-Chancellor of CSA Kanpur, who highlighted advancements like climate-resilient farming techniques relevant to potato cultivation. Cold storage innovations were the focus of an interactive session moderated by Shweta Jha, featuring Prerna Sharma, IAS.
A major highlight, was the concluding session titled “Aloo ke Aala Maharathi” (The Great Potato Maestros). This segment provided a platform for progressive potato farmers to share their personal journeys, challenges, and successes in potato cultivation. Bhanwar Pal Singh from Kanpur Dehat, a law graduate who returned to farming in 1992, shared his experience of cultivating potatoes across 80 to 100 acres. He spoke about overcoming initial challenges, including seed and technical issues, with the support of scientists and agricultural media. His message was clear:With Commitment, No Task is Impossible.
Satyendra Singh from Farrukhabad recounted his family’s five-decade-long history with potatoes, highlighting how the crop became a symbol of prosperity, with a person’s status once judged by “कितने बीघा आलू है” (how many bighas of potatoes one cultivates). He vividly described facing devastating challenges like late blight in the past and expressed immense gratitude to the scientists at ICAR-CPRI, referring to them as “Rishi Muni” (sages) for their crucial support and role in saving farmers’ crops. Singh also raised concerns about the current availability of breeder seeds and strongly requested scientists to increase the supply of popular and export-friendly varieties like Kufri Bahar (also known as 37). He noted that communication from scientists has improved over time, becoming more understandable to farmers.
Nitin Chaudhary from Meerut, who holds a BSc in Agriculture and has been farming for 25 years, discussed his diversification into various crops, including potato. He shared his recent success in exporting the CPRI variety Kufri Surya to Tehran and Bahrain, specifically focusing on larger sizes (250g+) not preferred by the domestic market. He explicitly credited CPRI as the indispensable “जनक” (originator) for making such exports possible. Chaudhary also offered insights into attracting the younger generation to farming, emphasising the need to embrace new technologies and opportunities beyond traditional cultivation.
Jitendra Awasthi from Aligarh, from a family with a farming heritage, highlighted his focus on seed production in potato farming. Like others, he stressed that challenges could be navigated with the guidance of scientists, referring to them as providing “Sannidhya” (close guidance). Awasthi spoke passionately about the freedom that farming offers compared to a salaried job, allowing flexibility and the ability to pursue opportunities like attending the adhiveshan. He underlined the unlimited opportunities present in the potato sector, citing the significantly higher rates received from export markets compared to domestic sales.
Throughout the sessions, challenges faced by farmers were discussed, and experts offered solutions. A significant concern raised by farmers, particularly Satyendra Singh, was the lack of processing units in major potato-producing areas like Farrukhabad, Kannauj, and neighbouring districts. Farmers expressed the desire for varieties that serve a dual purpose, suitable for both table consumption and processing, to provide alternative markets when table potato prices are low.
In response, CPRI experts highlighted the development of varieties like Kufri Sangam intended for dual use, though its market spread had challenges. They also pointed out that some existing processing varieties, like the Chipsona series, are also good for table consumption. Addressing the demand for processing units, the experts shared encouraging news, stating that the scenario in Uttar Pradesh has changed in the last five to six years, with approximately 8-10 processing units either operational or planned in and around the state. Specific examples included PepsiCo’s plant in Kosi, Haldiram’s in Noida, Merino in Hapur, Agristo’s flex plant in Bijnor, and upcoming plants by JK Food in Gajraula and two plants in nearby Kashipur, Uttarakhand.
Farmers also requested shorter-duration varieties, ideally around 90 days, particularly needed in areas where farmers wish to grow wheat or maize after potatoes, as varieties like Chipsona take around 4.5 months. CPRI experts responded by mentioning early bulking varieties suitable for multi-cropping systems (60-70 days) such as Kufri Pukhraj, Kufri Mohan, Kufri Ganga, Kufri Chandramukhi, and Kufri Ashok. They also spoke about the development of heat-tolerant varieties like Kufri Kiran and Kufri Bhaskar, with breeder seeds becoming available soon.
Discussions touched upon speciality and biofortified varieties like Kufri Manik, Kufri Neelkanth, Kufri Jamunia, and Kufri Kesar, which are rich in nutrients like Vitamin C, anthocyanins, zinc, and iron. Experts explained that while these varieties offer significant health benefits, they are relatively new, take time to enter the formal seed chain (8-10 years to reach farmers after development), and cater to a relatively narrow market segment (“First Class”) compared to common table potatoes. However, farmer Nitin Chaudhary provided a counterpoint, sharing his successful experience exporting Kufri Neelkanth to Kashmir, where there is good demand for red potatoes.
One of the major highlight for the attendees and which was appreciated was, Shri Dinesh Pratap Singh, the Hon’ble Minister of Horticulture, delivered an inspiring inaugural speech moderated by Shweta Jha, sharing his vision for boosting potato productivity and improving the welfare of farmers.
The misconception linking potato consumption solely to obesity was also addressed. Experts clarified that obesity is more related to how potatoes are prepared (e.g., fried) rather than the potato itself, suggesting healthier methods like baking, boiling, or using them in dishes like ‘chokha’.
An expert summarised the collaborative spirit needed, noting that each stakeholder, including researchers, farmers, processors, and media like Kisan Tak, has specific roles and limitations. Success in areas like export, processing, and seed production hinges on these stakeholders working together.
The Aloo Adhiveshan 2025 concluded with an awards ceremony titled ‘Aloo Sartaj’. B.V. Rao, Group Consulting Editor at India Today Digital, presented certificates and cash prizes to deserving farmers. A notable part of the recognition was CPRI honouring women farmers with a shawl, a potato cutter, and a basil plant as a gesture of respect. Additionally, winners of the Question-Answer competition held across the five sessions were awarded certificates, shawls, and cash prizes. A total of 15 winners received cash prizes: ₹5000 for first place, ₹2000 for second, and ₹1000 for third in each session. The winners were listed as Pramod, Abhineet Jain, and Nitin Chaudhary (Session 1); Mohammmad Ashad Usmani, Dr. Dheerendra Singh, and Ashish Bajpai (Session 2); Himanshu Dixit, Nikesh Singh, and Abhishek Katiyar (Session 3); Roshan, Phulji Chaudhary, and Dilip (Session 4); and Vinay Nagarkoti, Siddharth Sehgal, and Jitendra Kumar Maurya (Session 5).
The success of Aloo Adhiveshan 2025 was bolstered by its partners. The Uttar Pradesh Government served as the official sponsor, while UPCAR was the Presenting Partner. The Uttar Pradesh Government and CPRI were the Knowledge Partners, and HyFun Foods was the Associate Partner. Kisan Tak was the organiser, utilising its digital presence to amplify the event’s reach. The event also saw support from numerous other agricultural companies, research bodies, financial institutions, and government ministries tagged in promotional material.
Aloo Adhiveshan 2025 was presented as a crucial event for those invested in the future of India’s agriculture, particularly its vibrant potato sector, aiming to equip farmers with the knowledge and connections needed for innovation and growth.
