News on Potato Cultivation from Asia

Agrico reports strong performance from Babylon, Vogue, Paradiso and Fajah potato varieties in Cyprus despite heavy rainfall, cold weather and strong winds. New varieties Feliz, Jamaica and Sivas also show promising results.

Madhya Pradesh is emerging as a strategic hub for India’s French fry potato industry, driven by early harvests, suitable soil conditions, rising processor-grade cultivation, and expanding cold storage and agro-processing infrastructure.

HyFarm partners with Sri BioAesthetics Pvt. Ltd. to deploy microbiome-driven soil immunity, reducing diseases and improving potato yield, seed quality, and processing consistency via SoilFirst™ trials in Gujarat and Punjab.

Rising El Niño risk threatens potato supply by disrupting temperature and rainfall. Heat, drought, and excess moisture cut yields and quality, strain supply chains, and raise prices, underscoring the need for climate resilient farming systems.

The bumper potato harvest in West Bengal's Singur has led to a price crash and large-scale wastage. On the ground, heaps of potatoes are lying in the open, with produce rotting and farmers dumping stock.

A bumper potato harvest in the district this season has brought relief and optimism to farmers, as favorable weather and the absence of pest attacks led to higher-than-expected production.

Kazakhstan’s Pavlodar region and China’s Snow Valley plan a USD 100–200 million potato processing complex. The project will produce fries, support breeding, and build logistics, boosting value-added output, jobs, and agricultural capacity.

Global Potato Summit 2026 (Dec 16–17, Gandhinagar) unites global potato stakeholders. Showcasing India’s rising production, exports, and processing strength, the event will drive innovation, partnerships, and industry growth.

China has restricted fertilizer exports to protect its domestic market, adding further pressure to global supply chains already affected by disruptions linked to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. China is one of the world’s largest fertilizer exporters, shipping more than USD 13 billion worth last year.

Iran war disruption in the Strait of Hormuz threatens global food security as Gulf fertiliser exports are hit. Rising urea prices and supply shortages could cut crop yields in India, Brazil and China, pushing food costs higher worldwide.

ICAR–Central Potato Research Institute, Regional Station, Modipuram, Meerut, organized a one-day National Potato Fair–2026 on the occasion of National Potato Day, bringing together farmers, scientists, industry representatives and other stakeholders.

Harinder Farms, in Punjab, India successfully organized the 3rd Innovative Seed Show, bringing together potato growers, farmers, and agricultural stakeholders to exchange knowledge and discuss the future of crop production and seed potato systems.

Thanks to technological innovation, agricultural facilities in Gansu enable the vegetable industry to supply fresh products consistently throughout the year.

As the Union Budget 2026 is unveiled, India’s potato sector has urged the government to take decisive and time-bound policy action to transform the industry into a strong driver of farmer income growth, food processing expansion and export-led development.

Bihar Government launches Lady Rosetta Potato Expansion Scheme offering farmers 75% subsidy for chips & French fries variety. Applications open till Jan 15, 2026 across 17 districts, boosting farmers’ income and high-value potato cultivation.

One of the standout highlights of the first day of the Global Potato Summit 2025 was the Indian Potato Industry Excellence Awards, a platform created to honor leadership, innovation and impact across India’s potato value chain.

Fyllo partners with HyFarm to bring IoT-based precision farming to India’s potato growers, offering real-time soil, climate insights and predictive advisories to boost quality, sustainability and profitability across the potato value chain.

A massive protest by potato farmers on Monday brought traffic to a standstill on the Sadiya main road, as cultivators demanded fair prices for their produce and the creation of a proper market system.