Central Potato and Sweet Potato Research Centre (CSARC)

Prelims: Current events of National and International Importance

Why in News?

The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of the International Potato Centre’s South Asia Regional Centre at Agra, as a regional hub of the International Potato Center.

• Central Potato and Sweet Potato Research Centre (CSARC) – It will be established at Singna, Agra district, Uttar Pradesh, India.
• Parent organization – CSARC is a regional arm of the International Potato Center (CIP), headquartered in Lima, Peru.

CIP was founded in 1971 is a global research-for-development organization focused on potato, sweet potato, and other Andean roots and tubers.

• It will serve farmers in India, especially in major potato-producing states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and other states.
• It will also cater to other South Asian countries.

Objectives

• To improve food and nutrition security.
• To enhance farmers' income and create employment opportunities.
  • To promote development of high-yielding, nutrient-rich, climate-resilient potato and sweet potato varieties.
  • To promote post-harvest management, processing, value addition, and market access.
• Project cost & funding – Total Project Cost is Rs 171 crore with Rs 111 crore contributed by the Government of India and Rs 60 crore contributed by the International Potato Center (CIP).

Importance for India

• It supports India’s status as the second-largest producer and consumer of potatoes globally.
• It is expected to strengthen the potato and sweet potato sectors through scientific research and innovation.
• It complements existing Indian research institutions like:
  • ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI), Shimla (Potato research).
  • ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI), Thiruvananthapuram (Sweet potato and tuber crops research).

Significance

• Boost to climate-resilient agriculture.
• Enhances India’s role in international agricultural research.
• Builds on India’s successful model of hosting international agricultural research centres, like:
  • IRRI-South Asia Regional Centre, Varanasi (for rice research).

Reference

The Indian Express |Centre approves  International Potato Centre