From Access to Impact: Transforming SC Farming Communities through ICAR-CPRI, Shimla Interventions

Frontline demonstrations, capacity building and timely input support are helping Scheduled Caste farming communities adopt improved potato technologies and enhance productivity

For many small and marginal farmers from Scheduled Caste (SC) communities, limited access to quality planting material, improved agricultural technologies and scientific guidance has traditionally constrained farm productivity and income. Recognising the need to bridge these gaps, the ICAR–Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla implemented targeted interventions under the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) during 2025, with a focus on technology demonstration, capacity building and access to critical agricultural inputs.

The initiative sought to move beyond technology dissemination by placing farmers at the centre of the process—enabling them to observe improved practices in their own fields, acquire practical knowledge and access the inputs required for their adoption.

Taking Improved Technologies to Farmers’ Fields

As part of the intervention, 828 Frontline Demonstrations (FLDs) were conducted across six states—Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Punjab.

These demonstrations provided farmers with an opportunity to observe the performance of improved potato varieties and scientific crop-management practices under local farming conditions. By bringing technologies directly to farmers’ fields, the programme created a practical platform for learning and technology adoption.

The field demonstrations were complemented by 11 on- and off-campus training programmes, which collectively engaged 1,189 farmers.

The training programmes focused on key aspects of potato production, including improved varieties, balanced crop nutrition, pest management and scientific seed production, helping farmers strengthen their technical knowledge and decision-making skills.

Strengthening the Input Base

Technology adoption also requires timely access to appropriate inputs. Recognising this, ICAR-CPRI supplemented the demonstrations and training programmes with targeted input support.

Farmers received critical agricultural inputs, including approximately 500 quintals of breeder seed, 100 knapsack sprayers and hand-tool sets, along with bio-fertilisers and micronutrients.

The combined approach of demonstrations, training and input support enabled farmers to experience improved technologies while gaining the knowledge and resources necessary to apply them effectively.

Demonstrated Gains in Potato Productivity

The impact of the interventions was reflected in the yield performance recorded across the participating states.
In Uttar Pradesh, improved varieties such as Kufri Uday and Kufri Lohit recorded 24.14% higher yields. In Madhya Pradesh, Kufri Chipsona-3 achieved a 43.48% higher yield, while Kufri Neelkanth recorded a 21.74% increase in yield in Bihar.

These results demonstrate the potential of improved potato varieties and scientific production practices to enhance productivity when supported by appropriate technical guidance and quality planting material.

From Demonstration to Adoption

The SCSP intervention demonstrates how targeted agricultural support can help address some of the constraints faced by small and marginal farmers. Rather than limiting support to the distribution of inputs, the programme combined technology demonstration, hands-on capacity building and input assistance, creating an integrated pathway for farmers to access, understand and adopt improved practices.

For participating SC farming communities, the initiative has opened avenues to improve potato productivity while strengthening their technical capacity for scientific cultivation.

The experience also highlights the importance of taking agricultural technologies directly to farmers’ fields, where their performance can be observed under real farming conditions and shared within the community.

Building a Stronger Foundation for Inclusive Agricultural Development

The ICAR-CPRI interventions under SCSP represent a focused effort towards making improved potato technologies more accessible to farming communities that have historically faced gaps in access to quality planting material, modern technologies and scientific extension support.

With 828 frontline demonstrations, 1,189 farmers trained and substantial input support across six states, the initiative has created a foundation for wider technology adoption and improved productivity.

The reported yield gains achieved through varieties such as Kufri Uday, Kufri Lohit, Kufri Chipsona-3 and Kufri Neelkanth provide encouraging evidence of the value of combining improved varieties with scientific knowledge, field-level demonstrations and timely input support.

By bringing technology closer to farmers and strengthening their capacity to use it, ICAR-CPRI’s SCSP initiative is contributing to a more inclusive and productive potato farming system where access to knowledge and technology can translate into measurable gains at the farm level.

(Source: ICAR–Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla)