The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has officially approved four advanced potato varieties, developed by the ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI), Shimla. These innovations — Kufri Ratan, Kufri Tejas, Kufri Chipbharat-1, and Kufri Chipbharat-2 — have been released for agricultural use, seed production, multiplication, and industrial processing across multiple states and union territories, following recommendations from the Central Seed Committee. The primary goal of these varieties is to ensure higher yields, climate resilience, and improved profitability for farmers, while simultaneously catering to both fresh table consumption and industrial processing demands.
Two of the new varieties, Kufri Ratan and Kufri Tejas, are tailored for table consumption. Kufri Ratan is a medium-maturing variety, typically ready for harvest in approximately 90 days, offering wide adaptability across the North Indian plains and plateau regions. It delivers substantial yields of 37 to 39 tonnes per hectare, producing attractive dark red, ovoid tubers with yellow flesh, shallow to medium eyes, and excellent storability, making it ideal for farmers and market supply chains. Kufri Tejas, also medium-maturing, is notably heat tolerant, promising even higher yields ranging between 37 and 40 tonnes per hectare. Recommended for early-season cultivation in northern states such as Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, and for the main season in central and western states like Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, its white cream tubers with white flesh and high storability under ambient conditions further enhance its utility for direct table consumption.
For the burgeoning processing industry, Kufri Chipbharat-1 and Kufri Chipbharat-2 have been specifically developed for chip production. Kufri Chipbharat-1 matures in about 100 days, achieving high yields of 35 to 38 tonnes per hectare. Its round, white cream tubers feature shallow eyes, white flesh, and a high dry matter content of approximately 21 percent. Combined with low reducing sugars and excellent storability, this variety ensures an acceptable chip colour, proving highly valuable for the processing industry. Kufri Chipbharat-2 is an early-maturing variety, reaching harvest in around 90 days, and offers yields between 35 and 37 tonnes per hectare with wide adaptability. It produces white cream, ovoid tubers with cream flesh, shallow-medium eyes, high dry matter, and low reducing sugars, guaranteeing desirable chip quality. This variety is suitable for processing in numerous states, including Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu. Both Kufri Chipbharat varieties will be licensed to potato seed producers and processors, ensuring the food industry benefits from a consistent supply of high-quality raw material.
This development is celebrated as a significant milestone, far beyond a mere scientific discovery. Dr. Brajesh Singh, Director of ICAR-CPRI, affirmed that the notification represents a scientific breakthrough and a cause for celebration for farmers, researchers, and the entire potato-based food industry. He highlighted that these new varieties are poised to enhance productivity, improve processing efficiency, and ultimately ensure better financial returns for growers. Dr. Salej Sood, a Potato Breeder at ICAR-CPRI, further underscored the institute’s unwavering commitment to region-specific and farmer-centric innovations, tailoring solutions to meet local needs and enhancing farm incomes and crop resilience. Additionally, Dr. Alok Kumar, Head of Social Sciences, pointed out that these varieties are specifically designed to offer farmers high-yielding, climate-resilient options while simultaneously fulfilling the critical raw material demands of the processing industry. This dual benefit is expected to strengthen farmer-industry linkages and significantly boost rural incomes. This comprehensive approach promises a vibrant and prosperous future for India’s potato cultivators and the food sector.
