The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, has officially notified four new potato varieties developed by the ICAR–Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI), Shimla, for seed production and multiplication across states and union territories. 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 cultivation across diverse agro-climatic zones in the country.
These varieties are expected to significantly improve potato productivity and offer farmers improved choices suited for both table use and industrial processing. The notification is effective from September 1, 2025, as published in the Official Gazette.
Dr. Brajesh Singh, Director of ICAR-CPRI, congratulated the team of scientists for their sustained contributions to the farming community and potato-based industries. He described the notification as a milestone in strengthening India’s potato sector and remarked that the new varieties will enhance productivity, support processing efficiency, and ensure better returns for farmers, while also benefiting the food industry.
Dr. Salej Sood, Potato Breeder at ICAR-CPRI, highlighted that the development of these varieties is part of the institute’s ongoing efforts to deliver innovative and region-specific solutions to Indian agriculture. He noted that Kufri Ratan is a medium-maturing, high-yielding table variety with dark red tubers and excellent storability, recommended for wide adaptation in northern and central India. Kufri Tejas is heat-tolerant, medium-maturing, and high-yielding with white-cream tubers, suitable for early and main season cultivation in several plains regions. Kufri Chipbharat-1 is a medium-maturing, high-yielding variety suited for chip processing, producing round, white-cream tubers with high dry matter and low reducing sugars, and is recommended for plains and southern states. Kufri Chipbharat-2 is an early-maturing, high-yielding processing variety with wide adaptability, high dry matter, and good storability, making it ideal for chip manufacturing.
Dr. Alok Kumar, Head of Social Sciences at ICAR-CPRI, added that these region-specific and climate-resilient varieties are expected to enhance farm incomes and crop performance across India’s potato-growing regions. He further emphasized that the chip processing varieties would ensure a steady supply of quality raw material to the food processing sector, strengthening the link between farmers and industry.
With this development, ICAR-CPRI continues to reinforce its leadership in the potato research domain, contributing significantly to food security, agricultural sustainability, and rural livelihoods through science-led innovations.
