**Summary:**
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 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 enhance food and nutrition security, increase farmers' income, and generate employment by improving potato and sweet potato productivity, post-harvest management, and value addition. The CSARC will focus on developing high-yielding, nutrient-rich, and climate-resilient varieties of potato and sweet potato. The center aims to foster sustainable development in the potato and sweet potato sectors, not only in India but also across the South Asia region, through scientific advancements and innovation. The establishment of the center is also intended to leverage the potato sector's potential for significant employment opportunities across production, processing, packaging, transportation, marketing, and value chain activities.
Key Entities Referenced
International Potato Centre: An international agricultural research organization focused on potato and sweetpotato research.
South Asia Regional Centre: The regional branch of the International Potato Center in South Asia.
Singna, Agra, Uttar Pradesh: The location where the International Potato Centre's South Asia Regional Centre will be established.
Narendra Modi: The Prime Minister of India.
Department of Agriculture Farmers Welfare: A department of the Indian government responsible for agriculture and farmers' welfare.
potato: A major crop which the centre focuses on improving productivity, postharvest management and value addition.
sweetpotato: A major crop which the centre focuses on improving productivity, postharvest management and value addition.
India: The country where the International Potato Centre CIP's South Asia regional Centre is being established.
Cabinet
Cabinet approves establishment of International
Potato Centre (CIP)’s South Asia Regional Centre at
Singna, Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Posted On: 25 JUN 2025 3:18PM 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: 2139496)