Latest news with #CSARC
Indian Express
11 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Cabinet approves establishment of International Potato Center's South Asia regional centre at Agra
The Centre on Wednesday cleared a proposal to set up a regional centre of the Peru-based International Potato Center (CIP)— a premier research-for-development organisation founded in 1971 with a focus on potato and sweet potato—in India. The CIP-South Asia Regional Centre (CSARC) will come up at Singna in Agra and will not only serve farmers in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal but also cater to South Asian countries. The cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a proposal from the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare to establish the CSARC. 'The major objective of this investment is to increase food and nutrition security, farmers income, and job creation by improving potato and sweet potato productivity, post-harvest management and value-addition,' said an official statement issued after the cabinet meeting. '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 sweet potato developed by CSARC will significantly accelerate the sustainable development of the potato and sweet potato sectors not only in India but in the South Asia region also through world-class science and innovation,' the statement added. The decision follows a letter Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath wrote to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan six months ago demanding the early establishment of a CIP regional centre in Agra. An agriculture ministry delegation led by Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi visited Peru recently. Potatoes are native to the Peruvian-Bolivian Andes in South America. The entire project, to come up on 10 hectares of land provided by the UP government, will cost $20 million (about Rs 160 crore), of which India will contribute $13 million and the CIP $7 million, according to sources. The CSARC will focus on the development of new varieties that are climate-resilient, disease-free, and suitable for processing, the sources added. China set up a similar CIP centre, known as the China Center for Asia Pacific, in Yanqing, Beijing in 2017. It serves the entire East Asia and the Pacific region. The CSARC will be the second major international agricultural research institution to set up operations in India, The regional centre of the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), established in Varanasi, was the first. Two centres of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) work on tuber crops–the Shimla-based ICAR-CPRI (Central Potato Research Institute) working on potatoes and the Thiruvananthapuram-based ICAR-CTCRI (Central Tuber Crops Research Institute) working on sweet potato. India ranks number two in potato production and consumption, after China. In 2020, China produced 78.24 million tonnes of potatoes and India 51.30 million tonnes of the crop, together accounting for over one-third of the global production of 359.07 million tonnes. Uttar Pradesh (15 million tonnes), West Bengal (15 million tonnes), and Bihar (9 million tonnes) were the top three potato producers in India in 2020-21. Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab also produce significant amounts of potatoes. Harikishan Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express' National Bureau, specializes in reporting on governance, policy, and data. He covers the Prime Minister's Office and pivotal central ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. His work primarily revolves around reporting and policy analysis. In addition to this, he authors a weekly column titled "STATE-ISTICALLY SPEAKING," which is prominently featured on The Indian Express website. In this column, he immerses readers in narratives deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and electoral data, providing insightful perspectives on these critical aspects of governance and society. ... Read More
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
CIP Centre Agra: Cabinet clears potato R&D hub in UP; Rs 111.5 crore push to raise farmer incomes, yields
This is an AI-generated image, used for representational purposes only. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the establishment of the International Potato Centre's (CIP) South Asia Regional Centre (CSARC) at Singna in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. The move is expected to enhance food and nutrition security while raising farmer incomes and creating employment opportunities across the potato value chain. India is the world's second-largest producer of potatoes, with Uttar Pradesh being the top-producing state. The regional centre will focus on critical areas like seed production, pest management, sustainable farming, and farmer training. The centre will focus on improving the productivity of potatoes and sweet potatoes through advanced research, better post-harvest practices, and innovations in value addition. According to the government, the CSARC will play a key role in unlocking the untapped potential of India's potato sector, creating jobs in production, processing, packaging, transportation, and marketing. 'The high-yielding, nutrient-rich and climate-resilient varieties developed at this regional centre will not only benefit India but will also contribute to sustainable agricultural development across South Asia,' the PIB press release stated. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Uber luxury living at Hyderabad's billionaire junction Sumadhura Group Learn More Undo As per the government, the centre will also strengthen post-harvest management and value-addition chains, contributing to employment generation across sectors like packaging, transportation, and marketing. The Uttar Pradesh government has already allocated 10 hectares of land free of cost for the centre. The Union government will provide financial support of Rs 111.5 crore for the project, in collaboration with the UP government and international bodies. The facility is expected to accelerate innovation through world-class scientific research, making India a key player in the region's potato and sweet potato ecosystem. The initiative aligns with India's broader goals of agricultural sustainability and rural economic development. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
