On 29 June 2025, a significant public-private partnership was announced in Guwahati, marking a major boost for potato industry growth across India’s Northeast region. Global food and beverage giant PepsiCo has officially teamed up with the Assam government to foster a sustainable potato farming ecosystem and bolster the chips production value chain within the state. This ambitious collaboration is designed to unlock new avenues for income and growth for farmers, fundamentally transforming the region’s rural economy.
Historically, potato cultivation in Assam has been minimal, with some districts reporting near-zero production levels. The new initiative directly aims to alter this narrative. Assam Chief Secretary Dr. Ravi Kota, IAS, highlighted the transformative nature of this partnership, stating that farmers in Assam are “finding new ground—literally”. The project intends to enable farmers to adopt potato farming at scale, supported by strong connections to the burgeoning chips processing industry.
The partnership extends far beyond agricultural expansion; it is expected to catalyse grassroots economic transformation. By providing new opportunities for farmers, the project will promote self-reliance and generate crucial employment in rural areas. Dr. Kota expressed gratitude to key PepsiCo India figures, including CEO Jagrut Kotecha, Yashika Singh, and Sandip Samaddar, for their dedication to Assam and its people. Kotecha himself lauded Assam as “where progress meets purpose,” acknowledging the region’s rapid development and the promise of empowering farmers through this new potato-chips ecosystem.
A tangible outcome of this collaboration is the anticipated production at the Tata OSAT facility in Jagiroad, which is gearing up to produce an estimated major chips production This significant industrial development positions Assam to play a pivotal role in India’s broader “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) mission. As Dr. Kota aptly put it, Assam will contribute “two chips at a time” to this national vision.
Officials credit the success of this collaboration to the combined leadership and proactive policy support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. This public-private partnership is not merely a regional initiative; it is envisioned as a blueprint for similar agri-industrial collaborations that could benefit other states across India. The model focuses on directly connecting farmers with value-added processing and global food supply chains. This approach promises to enhance rural incomes, ensure sustainable sourcing, and create resilient local economies. PepsiCo and state officials share a collective hope that this endeavour will not only revolutionise potato farming in Assam but also inspire further partnerships aimed at building a stronger, more competitive, and self-reliant agriculture sector nationwide.
