Kufri Jamunia

Why in news?

ICAR has developed nutrient-rich coloured potato varieties to improve the intake of essential vitamins and minerals through daily food consumption.

• Kufri jamunia – It is an indigenously developed, purple coloured medium-maturing potato variety with medium-tall plants and a semi-compact canopy.
• The tubers are dark purple on the skin and purple in the flesh. They are oblong, with shallow eyes and a mealy texture.
• Developed by – Indian Council of Agricultural Research- Central Potato Research Institute (ICAR-CPRI) via biofortification.

Biofortification improves the nutrient content of crops through plant breeding, enabling food to naturally provide higher levels of essential nutrients. Unlike conventional food fortification, which adds nutrients during processing, biofortification integrates nutrition directly into the crop.

• Characteristics
  • Each plant produces 10–12 medium to large tubers.
  • Produces 32-35 tonnes per hectare under recommended cultivation practices.
  • Recorded around 49 tonnes per hectare yield in station trials at 90 days duration.
  • Marketable yield reached nearly 90% of total production in trials.
  • Shows medium dormancy of around 6-8 weeks. Hence, tubers do not sprout quickly.
  • Possesses good storage quality with low rot and minimal weight loss.
• Nutritional Components – Kufri jamunia contains anthocyanins, Vitamin C, carotenoids, zinc and iron.

Other varieties developed by ICAR

• Kufri Neelkanth – Released in 2018, first purple-skinned speciality potato variety, suitable for cultivation in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
• It is known for its high antioxidant content. The variety is suitable for people of all age groups.
• Kufri manik – Released in 2021, it produces attractive, deep red tubers with a round shape, medium eyes, and yellow flesh.
• The variety is rich in nutrients and contains high levels of anthocyanin, zinc, and iron.

Reference

PIB | India’s Nutrient-Rich Purple Potato