The Indian government has approved the establishment of the CIP-South Asia Regional Center in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, in collaboration with the International Potato Center (CIP), Peru. With an investment of ₹171 crore, this new centre aims to enhance research in potato and sweet potato cultivation, improve seed quality, and support food security in India and neighbouring countries.
The initiative will benefit over 5 crore farmers by developing climate-resilient and high-yield varieties, improving post-harvest management, and reducing dependency on imports. The Ministry of Agriculture and CIP will jointly operate the centre, which will serve as a hub for innovation and farmer support in the root crop sector.
Named after India’s second global agricultural research collaboration after the Rice Institute in Varanasi, the Agra centre will strengthen India’s role in international agri-research and empower small farmers with better tools and technologies.
