In a significant stride towards sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture, the International Rice Research Institute – South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) and the International Potato Center (CIP) jointly organised a multi-stakeholder consultation in Varanasi on 17 July 2025. This pivotal meeting aimed to evaluate and promote a prototype innovation enabling Potato Zero Tillage with Rice Straw Mulch (PZTM), a cutting-edge conservation agriculture technique designed to transform rice–potato cropping systems across India.
The PZTM model allows potatoes to be planted directly into rice stubble, utilising leftover straw as a natural mulch. This approach eliminates the need for intensive tillage, offering a multitude of benefits, including improved soil health, enhanced moisture retention, reduced irrigation and fertiliser needs, and lower labour costs. A key challenge addressed by this innovation is the obstruction of traditional potato planting methods caused by loose straw and surface stubble following the increasing mechanisation of rice harvesting. The proposed prototype, a novel combine harvester prototype integrated with a zero-till potato planter, ingeniously solves this by enabling simultaneous rice residue management and potato planting in a single mechanised operation, ensuring timeliness, efficiency, and scalability.
The consultation brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, highlighting a collaborative spirit. Participants included key industry players such as PepsiCo and McCain, agri-machinery developers like Yanmar and Khalsa, researchers from Punjab University, and farmers from major rice–potato growing states. Government officials from Uttar Pradesh, representatives from CGIAR centres, private agri-tech firms, and food processing companies also contributed to the discussions. This joint effort underscores the urgent need for system-oriented mechanisation solutions that address challenges like crop diversification, climate-smart intensification, circular residue use, and inclusive innovation tailored for smallholder farmers. Dr. Sudhanshu Singh, Director of ISARC, expressed delight at CIP’s South Asia Regional Centre being in Uttar Pradesh, noting that the machinery, once deployed, “could revolutionise rice–potato systems in Eastern India by ensuring timely planting, reducing turnaround time, and conserving resources”.
Uttar Pradesh, being India’s largest potato-producing state and a leading rice grower, has been identified as a strategic location for piloting the PZTM model. B.L. Meena, Additional Chief Secretary – Horticulture, Government of Uttar Pradesh, stressed the importance of convergence and scalability, expressing keen interest in supporting the initiative through existing horticulture and mechanisation schemes. This initiative also builds on the successful collaborative experience of IRRI and CIP under the APART project in Assam, where zero-tillage potato cultivation after rice resulted in significant environmental and productivity gains for smallholder farmers.
Discussions at the consultation focused on the prototype design, its practical feasibility, agroecological considerations, and the roadmap for validation and deployment. State-wise breakout sessions were conducted to assess current mechanisation practices and identify priority districts for piloting the PZTM approach across Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat, West Bengal, and Punjab. Stakeholders also emphasised the importance of gender inclusion, addressing labour shortages, and building capacity at the grassroots level. Dr. Neeraj Sharma, Country Head of CIP, highlighted the pivotal role of women in potato cultivation and the growing need for mechanisation to enhance efficiency and ensure timely operations. He also called for a greater focus on soil fertility management, sustainable resource use, and practical alternatives to crop residue burning, underscoring that scaling sustainable potato production in India will require coordinated efforts across public, private, and research sectors.
The meeting concluded with a comprehensive action plan, which includes refining the prototype based on field-level feedback, selecting pilot districts, and co-developing a field-testing roadmap with public, private, and research partners. The plan also involves exploring integration with public funding mechanisms under schemes such as MIDH, RKVY, and state horticulture programs. The prototype is expected to undergo field validation in the upcoming Rabi season, with IRRI and CIP jointly coordinating its implementation, data collection, and stakeholder engagement. A collaborative roadmap is also being developed to align efforts with national and state priorities, encourage private sector participation, and promote farmer-led scaling of this innovative solution.
