In India, CIP is working as a public international organization under the United Nations (Privileges and Immunities) Act, 1947 to carry out research programs to increase the production and productivity of potato and sweet-potato at the national level in cooperation with the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), and its associated research institutes working on potato (CPRI) and sweetpotato (CTCRI). Collaborate with universities and international research organizations to advance agricultural innovations in India and the region.
Odisha
Given the small landholding status of most farmers in Odisha, many do not perceive potato farming as beneficial due to high production costs and limited access to quality seed, which often must be sourced from outside the state. To address this, the project introduced the Small Farmers, Large Fields (SFLF) initiative, aimed at strengthening farmers’ bargaining power by improving supply chain integration. A major focus of the initiative is to support farmers in collectively procuring quality inputs, such as seeds and fertilizers, from reliable and affordable sources. The project aims to expand the Small Farmers, Large Fields (SFLF) initiative to 5,100 acres across the state. In the upcoming Rabi season the project is targeting 660 acres under the SFLF model and thus require procurement of 400 MT of seed for this purpose.
Location –Koraput Puri, Baragargh, Khorda districts Odisha
West Bengal
The West Bengal has immense potential to increase potato production by expanding acreage and improving productivity. The soils and environment in many parts of West Bengal are suitable for cultivating potato. It is also an opportune time to diversify and intensify the rice-based system in a sustainable way, raise farmers’ incomes through the production of this profitable crop, and diversify the agri-food system. This requires a holistic approach integrating the best available technology with backward and forward market linkages. CIP helped to the farmers, FPOs NGOs and many SHGs through grow quality potatoes, and reached out more than 70,000 stakeholders throughout the various activities in the state. The state has good climate and opportunities to grow potato in the Rabi season, compared to other potato leading states. The farmers can grow and sale potatoes with high price in so-called off-season potatoes. The potato cultivation in the Rabi will benefit to the farmers in term of livelihood as well as food security, also. In this season, with the interest of the poor tribal farmers and off-season promotion, CIP want to invest on potato seed (25 MT) and support area expansion of potato in the state through the model of “Small Farm Large Field (SFLF).
To continue of the program for the poor and marginal farmers, CIP want to provide backward linkage to the farmer’s group for the quality seed, timely access from direct from the seed supplier. The CIP is providing quality seed as per needs of the groups.
Location – Sundarban, West Bengal