After China, India set to get regional centre of Peru-based premier potato institute
The Central Government is likely to clear a proposal to set up a regional centre of Peru-based International Potato Center (CIP), a premier research-for-development organisation with a focus on potato and sweet potato, in India.
The proposed centre — CIP-South Asia Regional Centre (CIP-SARC) — will come up in Agra, and will serve farmers not only in potato belt states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal but also cater to South Asian countries.
It is learnt that the Union Cabinet is likely to soon approve a proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to set up the centre. The development comes months after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath wrote to the Centre, seeking early establishment of a regional centre of the CIP in the district of Agra. Recently, an Agriculture Ministry delegation led by Devesh Chaturvedi, Agriculture Secretary, visited Peru.
Highlighting the delay in the establishment of the centre, Adityanath wrote a letter to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on January 20. In the letter, Adityanath urged Chouhan to direct the officials concerned in his ministry to pave the way for the early establishment of the International Potato Center (CIP)- South Asia Regional Center at Singana, Agra.
The sources say that the project will be worth $20 million (about Rs 160 crore), of which India will contribute $13 million, while the remaining $7 million will be funded by CIP. The UP government has provided 10 hectares of land for the proposed Centre.
The CIP-SARC will work not only for UP but for the entire country and South Asia, said sources, adding that the proposed centre will focus on the development of new varieties, which are climate resilient, disease-free, and are suitable for processing. It will bring global science expertise, an extensive global innovation network and global genetic resources, said the sources.
The proposed centre in Agra comes 8 years after China set up a similar CIP centre. The CIP's China centre, known as the China Center for Asia Pacific (CCCAP), was established in Yanqing, Beijing, in 2017. Apart from China, the centre serves the entire East Asia and the Pacific region.
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 potato crop is native to the Peruvian-Bolivian Andes in South America.
The proposed CIP-SARC will be the second major international agricultural research institution to set up its operations in India. In 2017, the Agriculture Ministry supported the establishment of a regional centre of the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). The IRRI-SARC is established in Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's parliamentary constituency.
As of now, at least two different centres of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) work on tuber crops. While the Shimla-based ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI) is working on potato, the Thiruvananthapuram-based ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI) is working on sweet potato.
China is the top potato producer and consumer in the world, and it is followed by India. In 2020, China's potato production was recorded at 78.24 million tonnes, while India recorded a production of 51.30 million tonnes. Both countries accounted for over one-third of the global potato production (359.07 million tonnes).
In India, Uttar Pradesh (15 million tonnes), West Bengal (15 million tonnes), and Bihar (9 million tonnes) were the top three potato producers in 2020-21. The other states having significant potato production are Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab.
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
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
17 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Reliance Power participates in global bids for 1,500-MW gas-based power project
Anil Ambani's Reliance Power Ltd is planning to set up a 1,500-MW gas-based power project overseas and is actively participating in several international tenders for its development, according to sources. Sources said, Reliance Power has submitted competitive bids for gas-based power projects in Kuwait, UAE, and Malaysia as part of its selective global expansion strategy. The company has recently secured two mega power projects in Bhutan - a 500-MW solar project and a 770-MW hydropower project. Based on the outcome of the ongoing international bids, Reliance Power plans to relocate two 750 MW modules of world-class equipment currently in its possession in India. The proposed project is expected to create significant value in Reliance Power's balance sheet, as the company aims to realise up to Rs 2,000 crore through the monetisation of these assets. When contacted, a Reliance Power spokesperson confirmed the company's participation in global tenders. Originally, the company had imported three modules of 750 MW world class equipment from General Electric, USA, for a gas-based combined cycle power project, out of which one module was exported to Bangladesh for an LNG based power project in partnership with Japan's JERA. Now, Reliance Power intends to deploy the remaining two modules for a similar project at an overseas location. The demand for gas-based power - widely regarded as a clean energy source - is significantly high in countries such as Kuwait, the UAE, and Malaysia. However, global suppliers like GE typically require 3 to 5 years to deliver equipment for gas or LNG-based power plants. In contrast, Reliance Power has 1,500 MW of equipment readily available, enabling it to execute such projects in the shortest possible timeframe. Reliance Power is actively focusing on renewable and clean energy. The company has a strong development pipeline, including 2.5 GWp of utility-scale solar projects and more than 2.5 GWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). This positions Reliance Power as the largest private sector player in the integrated solar + BESS segment in India. Reliance Power has also entered into a joint venture with the Bhutan Government's Druk Holding & Investments (DHI) for the development of a 500 -MW solar project and a 770-MW hydropower project in Bhutan. This marks the largest foreign direct investment by an Indian private company in Bhutan's renewable energy sector.
Hans India
24 minutes ago
- Hans India
Coconut prices double in Chennai amid low supply, retail rates touch Rs 80 per kg
Chennai: Coconut prices have surged sharply across Chennai, with retail rates touching as high as Rs 80 per kg, driven by dwindling supplies and high demand. In the wholesale market, coconuts are selling for Rs 58–60 per kg, while semi-wholesale rates range between Rs 65–70 per kg, according to Koyambedu Semi-Wholesalers Association President S.S. Muthukumar. Much of Chennai's coconut supply comes from Pollachi, Cuddalore, Puducherry, Thanjavur, and Udumalpet. However, the supply crunch has worsened following Cyclone Gaja in 2020, which devastated thousands of hectares of coconut plantations along Tamil Nadu's coast. According to the state Agriculture Department, the cyclone affected nearly 45,117 hectares of coconut groves and damaged around 63 lakh coconut trees in eight districts. "The government must intervene and fix affordable prices. Otherwise, there is a chance of another price hike of Rs 5–10 in the city markets. Chennai alone needs over three lakh coconuts every day," coconut farmer Saravanakumar said. N. Thangavel, a farmer from Pollachi, said the drop in production was not only due to cyclone-related damage but also because of increasing crop diseases like leaf blight and stem bleeding, which have become widespread in Tamil Nadu over the past two years. Rising prices have also hit small eateries across Chennai, many of which have started replacing coconut chutneys with mint chutneys to manage costs. Tender coconuts, too, have become more expensive. In parts of Chennai, tender coconuts are now sold for Rs 50–60 each. Muthuraman, a wholesale dealer, said supply from Pattukkottai and Thanjavur has declined since Cyclone Gaja, pushing traders to source from Puducherry and Cuddalore, where prices are higher. Dealers note that tender coconut procurement costs have risen by at least Rs 5 compared to last year, with transportation adding another Rs 3 per coconut. Sellers often stockpile coconuts in bulk to maintain a steady supply. "Tender coconuts are always in demand as they are natural and free of additives," retailer T. Raji said. Another seller, P.M. Murugan, added: "Despite fluctuations in daily demand, sales remain steady because customers trust their quality."
The Hindu
29 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Will reach out to Centre seeking protection of Kakinada wetlands: BJP leader
Former Kakinada District BJP President Chilukuri Ram Kumar, announced on Sunday that the party would reach out to the Central government to protect and conserve the Kakinada wetlands, under the control of the Salt Commissioner's Organisation (SCO), as they are crucial for the coastal security of the Kakinada Smart City in Andhra Pradesh. The announcement follows after the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Trade, in principle, consented to transferring 1,245.28 acres of land to the Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board (APMB). The Kakinada District authorities are now engaged in assessing the cost of the 1,245.28 acres of land that is under the jurisdiction of the SCO. The Chollangi and Gurajanapalli wetlands are spread in 626.37 acres of the 1,245.28 acres of land near Kakinada city. In an official release, Mr. Ram Kumar said; 'The decision to transfer the wetlands (SCO's lands) to APMB cannot be welcomed. The Chollangi wetland, adjacent to Coringa mangroves, falls in the Central Asian Flyway zone of migratory birds and qualifies to be declared as an Important Bird Area in Andhra Pradesh. The Chollangi wetland needs to be protected as the Smart City of Kakinada is expanding. This wetland can be compared to the Navi Mumbai wetlands of Mumbai city that play a vital role in coastal security.' He added that public representatives are being consulted before reaching out to the Central government authorities for the protection of the wetlands.' Additionally, Kakinada-based environmentalists and Non-Governmental Organisations are also being consulted in regards to the conservation of the wetlands.
