<p>New Delhi: 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.</p><p>ThePeru-based premier research-for-development organisation focuses on potato and sweet potato. </p><p>The Centre is expected to serve farmers, not only in potato-belt states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal, but also cater to South Asian countries.</p><p>"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 a statement. </p><p>The potato sector in India has the potential to generate significant employment opportunities in production sector, processing sector, packaging, transportation, marketing, value chain, etc. </p><p>"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 said. </p><p>The UP government already provided 10 hectares of land for the proposed project as the Centre will invest Rs 111 crore through the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.</p><p>India is the world's second-largest producer of potato, behind only China. Within India, Uttar Pradesh contributes nearly 30 per cent of all potato output, followed by states like West Bengal and Bihar.</p><p>China set up a similar CIP centre in Yanqing, Beijing, in 2017. </p><p>Headquartered in Lima, Peru, the CIP was founded in 1971 as a research-for-development organisation with a focus on potato, sweet potato and Andean roots and tubers. The CIP has a research presence in more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.</p>
<p>New Delhi: 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.</p><p>ThePeru-based premier research-for-development organisation focuses on potato and sweet potato. </p><p>The Centre is expected to serve farmers, not only in potato-belt states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal, but also cater to South Asian countries.</p><p>"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 a statement. </p><p>The potato sector in India has the potential to generate significant employment opportunities in production sector, processing sector, packaging, transportation, marketing, value chain, etc. </p><p>"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 said. </p><p>The UP government already provided 10 hectares of land for the proposed project as the Centre will invest Rs 111 crore through the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.</p><p>India is the world's second-largest producer of potato, behind only China. Within India, Uttar Pradesh contributes nearly 30 per cent of all potato output, followed by states like West Bengal and Bihar.</p><p>China set up a similar CIP centre in Yanqing, Beijing, in 2017. </p><p>Headquartered in Lima, Peru, the CIP was founded in 1971 as a research-for-development organisation with a focus on potato, sweet potato and Andean roots and tubers. The CIP has a research presence in more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.</p>
