Ministry of Agriculture Notifies Four New Potato Varieties of ICAR-CPRI for Nationwide Cultivation and Processing

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, has officially notified four new potato varieties developed by ICAR–Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, for seed production and multiplication across the country. Based on the recommendations of the Central Seed Committee, the newly released varieties Kufri Ratan, Kufri Chipbharat-1, Kufri Chipbharat-2, and Kufri Tejas have been approved for nationwide use as quality seed, opening new opportunities for enhancing potato productivity and processing efficiency.

Dr. Brajesh Singh, Director, ICAR-CPRI, congratulated the scientists for their sustained contributions, calling this a milestone for the farming community and potato-based industries. He emphasized that the release of these varieties would not only boost productivity but also strengthen India’s potato sector by supporting both table consumption and processing industries.

The varieties bring region-specific advantages:

•Kufri Ratan: A medium maturing (90 days), high-yielding (37–39 t/ha) red-skinned table potato with wide adaptability across north Indian Plains & plateau regions. It produces attractive tubers with excellent storability.

•Kufri Tejas: A heat-tolerant, medium maturing (90 days), high-yielding (37–40 t/ha) table potato, suitable for Indian plains including Haryana, Punjab, UP, MP, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. It has good storability under ambient conditions.

•Kufri Chipbharat-1: A medium maturing (100 days), high-yielding (35–38 t/ha) chip processing variety recommended for Indian plains. It has high dry matter (21%), low reducing sugars, and produces chips of acceptable colour.

•Kufri Chipbharat-2: An early maturing (90 days), high-yielding (35–37 t/ha) chip processing variety, with similar high dry matter and excellent storability, ensuring consistent supply for processors.

Dr. Salej Sood highlighted that these innovations reaffirm ICAR-CPRI’s commitment to developing region-specific solutions, and their role in enhancing farm incomes, crop resilience, and strengthening farmer–industry linkages.

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