To boost potato productivity and provide farmers with improved options, the Ministry of Agriculture has approved four new potato varieties. The approval was granted based on the recommendation of the Central Seed Committee. These varieties, developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) – Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI), have been cleared for seed production and nationwide distribution.
1. Kufri Ratan:
A medium-maturing variety that takes about 90 days to harvest. It yields 37–39 tonnes per hectare. The tubers have an attractive deep red skin with yellow flesh, are oval in shape, and possess good storage capacity. It is suitable for plains and plateau regions of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.
2. Kufri Tejas:
This is a heat-tolerant, medium-maturity variety ready in about 90 days with a yield potential of 37–40 tonnes per hectare. The variety produces oval tubers with cream-white skin and white flesh, and offers excellent storage quality. It is recommended for early-season cultivation in northern plains and for the main season in states like Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
3. Kufri Chipbharat-1:
A chip-processing variety that matures in 100 days and yields 35–38 tonnes per hectare. It has round tubers with white flesh and shallow eyes, containing around 21% dry matter. The low sugar content makes it ideal for chips and processing industries. It has strong storage potential under ambient conditions and is suitable for major potato-growing states across India.
4. Kufri Chipbharat-2:
An early-maturing (90 days) and high-yielding (35–37 tonnes per hectare) chip-processing variety. The tubers are oval-shaped, cream-white, with shallow-to-medium eyes and cream-colored flesh. With high dry matter (21%) and low sugar levels, it is especially suited for seed producers and processing companies under license agreements.
A Milestone for Farmers and Industry:
Congratulating the scientists, ICAR-CPRI Director Dr. Brajesh Singh called the release of these four varieties a significant milestone for India’s potato sector. He emphasized that these new varieties will not only boost productivity and enhance storage potential but also ensure higher profitability for farmers while supporting the growth of potato-based processing industries.
