CONTEXT

• The Union Cabinet approved setting up the South Asia Regional Centre of the International Potato Center (CIP) at Singna, Agra (UP).
• India becomes the second country after China to host a CIP regional centre.
• Initiative backed by Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare; proposed by UP Govt.

CONCEPT: ABOUT CIP AND ITS FUNCTIONS

• CIP (International Potato Center):
  • HQ: Lima, Peru; Established in 1971;
  • A CGIAR institution focused on potato, sweet potato, and Andean tubers.
• Purpose of CIP–CSARC (South Asia Regional Centre):
  • Enhance food & nutrition security.
  • Boost farmer incomes, generate rural employment.
  • Strengthen productivity, post-harvest management, and value chain in potato & sweet potato.
• Functions at Agra Centre:
  • Research & Development (R&D).
  • Technology transfer to farmers.
  • Regional collaboration with South Asian nations.
  • Link with Indian institutions like ICAR-CPRI (Shimla) & ICAR-CTCRI (Thiruvananthapuram).
• Financials:
  • Total cost: ₹171 crore (India: ₹111 Cr, CIP: ₹60 Cr).
  • Land: 10 hectares provided by UP Govt.

CURRENT

• India is the 2nd largest producer & consumer of potato (51.3 MT in 2020); China ranks 1st.
• UP & WB lead domestic production (~15 MT each), followed by Bihar (~9 MT).
• Potato sector holds high employment potential—from production to marketing.
• India aims to become a regional agri-R&D hub—follows earlier setup of IRRI-SARC (Varanasi) in 2017.
• CIP–CSARC complements national goals under:
  • Doubling farmers’ income,
  • Atmanirbhar Krishi, and
  • Regional agricultural diplomacy.