Peru-based International Potato Centre to establish branch near Sur Sarovar in Agra

AGRA: The Peru-based International Potato Centre (CIP) will establish a branch near the Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary in Agra with an investment of Rs 120 crore, following a review meeting conducted on Wednesday by UP’s Horticulture Minister Dinesh Pratap Singh and Forest & Environment Minister Arun Kumar.

During the meeting, officials presented a progress report indicating that CIP will inaugurate its Agra branch on 10 hectares of land allocated by the national horticulture board on a 99-year lease at no cost.

This will be the fourth CIP facility in the world, after those in Peru, Kenya, and China. The ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare, along with the govt of India and CIP, is working to set up the centre near the Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary.

Before implementation, a comprehensive environmental impact assessment will be conducted, and approvals will be obtained from the Supreme Court and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). BNHS or the Wildlife Institute of India will also carry out an ecological evaluation of the sanctuary.

Dinesh Pratap Singh said, "The establishment of the CIP branch will benefit agriculturists and provide superior seed varieties. Uttar Pradesh has nine climatic zones, and the availability of suitable seeds will boost potato production and support farmers."