Join WhatsApp Group of Indian Potato
Join WhatsApp Group of Indian Potato
In India, the potato is more than a household staple. It is a strategic crop, essential for food security, rural employment, and economic development. With demand steadily rising from both fresh consumption and the food processing industry, the sector’s future rests on innovation and strong leadership. One of the professionals who has been at the forefront of this transformation is Dr. Indira Laxman Dhumne, whose career journey bridges science, industry, and community. Her story is an inspiring example of how knowledge, persistence, and vision can shape not only crops but entire livelihoods.
From Academic Roots to Early Industry Experience
Dr. Dhumne’s career began with a solid academic background — she earned an M.Sc. in Plant Pathology and later completed a Ph.D. in Plant Sciences. This training gave her a strong grounding in plant health, crop improvement, and disease management.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, she joined the plant tissue culture industry, where she gained invaluable experience in micropropagation and large-scale plant production. This phase, though behind the scenes, sharpened her technical skills and laid the foundation for her later breakthroughs. Between 1999 and 2005, she mastered the precision techniques of producing clean, disease-free planting material.
Her shift to the potato sector in 2005 marked a turning point. Potatoes offered both scientific challenges and commercial opportunities. At Frito-Lay India (2009–2015), she broadened her horizons by managing not only a tissue culture laboratory but also taking on responsibilities in research and development, seed multiplication, and geographical expansion of potato production. This period was instrumental in giving her a holistic view of the potato value chain — from lab-based seed development to field-level implementation.
Scaling Up at Mahindra HZPC
In 2015, Dr. Dhumne’s expertise found a new home at Mahindra HZPC, a joint venture of Mahindra & Mahindra a Global name from India with the Dutch company HZPC’s global leadership in potato breeding. Joining as a technical and managerial leader, she was tasked with building and expanding the company’s seed potato production capacity.
Her most remarkable achievement has been the establishment and growth of a world-class minituber facility achieving a tenfold increase under a decade. This exponential growth has been possible due to her meticulous planning, adoption of advanced protocols, and strong execution. Along with her strategic role of being member of management committee, she handles the responsibility of production, Quality and R&D.
Dr. Dhumne also led the introduction and acclimatization of new potato varieties in India. Working with varieties such as Colomba, Tauras, Alverstone, and Quintera, she developed customized packages of practices (POPs) to suit Indian soils and climates. Her work ensures that farmers are not only introduced to high-yielding, disease-tolerant varieties but are also guided on how to cultivate them effectively. The result is higher productivity, better quality potatoes, and improved profitability for farmers.
Championing Women in the Potato Sector
A recurring theme in Dr. Dhumne’s career has been her advocacy for women — both in farming and in corporate roles. Currently she leads a team of more than 150 members, staff and front liners and half of them are females. She observes that women farmers, often quick learners and enthusiastic adopters of technology, once convinced of its benefits. As she has seen during her visits to Europe about how women are handling large farms on their own, she wishes that someday it will happen in India also. Due to use of mechanization and IOT, it has become easy to manage farm by women farmers. Their attention to detail and emphasis on quality often set them apart in agriculture. Women, she notes, are naturally inclined to care for the finer aspects of planting, nurturing, and harvesting, making them vital contributors to the sector.
In corporate environments too, Dr. Dhumne highlights the growing influence of women. At Mahindra & Mahindra very specialized women centric talent development programmes (Woman Leadership Programme) are run to develop the future leaders. At Mahindra HZPC, women today are managing some of the Mini tuber production units and overseeing quality control functions. She believes that as more women take on leadership roles, the potato industry will benefit from diverse perspectives and stronger execution.
The Road Ahead for India’s Potato Industry
India is the world’s second-largest potato producer, but the road ahead is ambitious. The Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI) has projected that India will need to produce 125 million tonnes of potatoes by 2050, nearly double the current output. Meeting this target will require both scientific and systemic breakthroughs.
Dr. Dhumne emphasizes three pillars that will guide this growth:
- Improved Genetics: Developing new, climate-resilient, and high-yielding varieties that can withstand both biotic and abiotic stresses.
- Seed quality and traceability: Ensuring that farmers have reliable access to certified seed potatoes, backed by robust systems to prevent counterfeit material.
- Soil health management: Restoring soil fertility by addressing issues like high pH, salinity, and low organic carbon, thereby enabling varieties to reach their full genetic potential.
She asserts that unless these areas are addressed simultaneously, India will struggle to sustain productivity increases. Importantly, she insists that farmers must be partners in innovation, not just recipients of technology.
A Vision of Inclusive Growth
The story of Dr. Indira Laxman Dhumne is one of determination, expertise, and vision. From her beginnings in plant tissue culture to her leadership role in one of India’s most ambitious seed potato ventures, she has consistently combined scientific rigor with practical solutions for farmers.
Her journey exemplifies the importance of integrating science, corporate leadership, and farmer engagement. By focusing on variety selection, seed quality, and soil health, she is helping to chart a roadmap for India’s potato industry that is both ambitious and sustainable. Equally important, she reminds us that women — as farmers, scientists, and leaders and are not just contributors
