**Summary:**
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved the establishment of the International Potato Centre (CIP)'s South Asia Regional Centre (CSARC) in Singna, Agra, Uttar Pradesh. This initiative, proposed by the Department of Agriculture Farmers Welfare, aims to bolster food and nutrition security, augment farmers' income, and stimulate job creation. The strategy to achieve this is to enhance potato and sweetpotato productivity through improved post-harvest management and value addition. The CSARC will focus on developing high-yielding, nutrient-rich, and climate-resilient varieties of potato and sweetpotato. The establishment of the CSARC is expected to catalyze sustainable development in the potato and sweetpotato sectors across India and the broader South Asia region through the application of advanced scientific research and innovation. The project is further motivated by the potato sector's considerable potential for employment generation across various segments, including production, processing, packaging, transportation, marketing, and value chain activities.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture Farmers Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for agriculture and farmers' welfare.
International Potato Centre CIP: An international agricultural research institution focused on potato and sweetpotato research.
Singna, Agra, Uttar Pradesh: The specific location in Uttar Pradesh, India, where the International Potato Centre CIPs South Asia Regional Centre will be established.
Narendra Modi: The Prime Minister of India who chaired the Union Cabinet meeting that approved the proposal.
Department of Agriculture Farmers Welfare: The department within the Ministry of Agriculture Farmers Welfare that proposed the establishment of the regional center.
International Potato Centre CIPs South Asia Regional Centre CSARC: The regional center being established in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, by the International Potato Centre (CIP).
India: The country where the regional center is being established and where the potato sector has significant potential.
South Asia: The broader region that will benefit from the research and development conducted at the CSARC.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Cabinet approves establishment of International
Potato Centre (CIP)’s South Asia Regional Centre at
Singna, Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Posted On: 25 JUN 2025 3:19PM by PIB Delhi
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved a proposal from the
Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare to establish International Potato Centre (CIP)’s South Asia
Regional Centre (CSARC) at Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
The major objective of this investment is to increase food and nutrition security, farmers income, and job
creation by improving potato and sweetpotato productivity, post-harvest management and value-addition.
The potato sector in India has the potential to generate significant employment opportunities in production
sector, processing sector, packaging, transportation, marketing, value chain, etc. Hence, in order to untap and
explore the huge potential in this sector, International Potato Centre (CIP) ‘s south Asia regional Centre is
being established at Singna, Agra, Uttar Pradesh. High yielding, nutrient and climate resilient varieties of
potato and sweetpotato developed by CSARC will significantly accelerate the sustainable development of the
potato and sweetpotato sectors not only in India but in the South Asia region also through world-class science
and innovation.
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MJPS/BM
(Release ID: 2139497)