India stands as the second largest producer of potatoes in the world after China. In India, potato farming is a crucial agricultural enterprise. Driven by the immense contributions of several key states, the crop not only serves as a primary dietary staple but also plays a vital role in supporting the national economy. In this blog, we will explore the top 10 potato-producing states in India and examine their significant contributions to potato production.
Table of Contents
- Overview of Potato Production in India
- What are the Top 10 Potato Producing States in India?
- Final Thoughts
Overview of Potato Production in India
Potatoes are the third most consumed food crop after rice and wheat. Potato, a heat-sensitive crop, is mostly confined to the Indo-Gangetic plains under irrigated conditions, particularly due to climatic constraints. Therefore, potato farming in India is done mainly in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.
According to recent reports from APEDA, India's total potato production is 58,571.35 thousand tonnes for the 2024-25 crop year. This represents a high growth from the 2023-24 harvest of 57,053.36 thousand tonnes, cementing the nation's status as the world's second-largest potato grower after China. Today, potatoes stand as the most important horticultural crop in India, mainly because of their capacity to produce the highest nutrition and dry matter on a per-unit-area and per-time basis.
What are the Top 10 Potato Producing States in India?
As per the data published in APEDA, the top 10 potato producing states in India in 2024-25 are:
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh is the largest producer of potatoes in India. The state contributed around 34.80% of the total potato production in India by producing 20,382.48 thousand tonnes. Districts such as Agra, Mathura, Mainpuri, Farrukhabad, Etawah, Kanpur, and Aligarh are renowned for their high potato yields. The popular potato varieties grown in Uttar Pradesh include Kufri Chandramukhi, Kufri Chipsona, Kufri Sindhuri, and several others.
West Bengal
West Bengal is the second-largest potato producer after Uttar Pradesh, producing 13,763.08 thousand tonnes and making over 23.50% of the total potato production. Hooghly district in West Bengal is the potato production hub and contributes around 40% of the state's total potato production. Some common potato varieties cultivated in this state are Kufri Chandramukhi, Kufri Ashoka and Kufri Pukhraj. These varieties are suitable for table purposes and instant chips, and flakes.
Bihar
Bihar is among India's leading potato producers and utilizes the largest area for potato cultivation compared to other vegetables. It produced 7,386 thousand tonnes, accounting for around 12.61% of the country's total potato production. Districts such as Patna, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Mahbubani, Nalanda, Katihar, and Champaran are a few top potato producing districts in the state. The popular potato varieties majorly grown in Bihar are Kufri Sindhuri, Kufri Anand, Kufri Chipsona and Kufri Lalima. Introducing modern agricultural techniques and farming practices highly influences the state's growth in potato production.
Gujarat
The state's advanced irrigation infrastructure, combined with rich alluvial soil, allows it to produce potatoes to a significant extent. This helped the state produce 4,524 thousand tonnes of potatoes, contributing around 7.72% of the total production. Banaskantha district is the primary contributor to potato production in the state, and with the help of a drip irrigation method, the potato yield per acre in India has increased. The popular potato varieties grown in Gujarat are Kufri Chandramukhi, Kufri Chipsona, Kufri Lauvkar, etc.
Madhya Pradesh
The state ranks fifth in potato production in India. The state contributed around 6.65% to the national potato production with 3,897.63 thousand tonnes. Bhopal, Ujjain, Indore, Dewas, Gwalior, and Shajapur are some districts that majorly contribute to the state's potato production. The popular potato varieties grown in Madhya Pradesh are Kufri Chandramukhi and Kufri Lavkar potatoes, which are suitable for making chips.
Punjab
Potatoes have a significant share of the overall vegetables grown in Punjab, and state produced 3,312 thousand tonnes, making 5.65% of the total production. Major potato producing districts in the state are Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Bathinda, and Hoshiarpur. These districts majorly cultivate varieties like Kufri Jyoti, Kufri Badshah, Kufri Pukhraj, Kufri Jawahar and Kufri Chipsona.
Assam
The unique topography and climate of Assam have been conducive to potato cultivation. The state produced 797.56 thousand tonnes of potatoes, which led to around 1.36% of the total production. Tinsukia and Dibrugarh are the most notable contributors. The popular potato varieties grown in Assam are Kufri Chandramukhi, Kufri Jyoti, and Kufri Sindhuri.
Haryana
Haryana is another significant contributor to the potato production of India. Potatoes are the key crop in Haryana, and the state produces approximately 746 tonnes of potatoes. Its 1.27% contribution to national potato production is possible due to favorable climatic conditions and irrigation facilities. Hisar, Fatehabad, Sirsa, and Karnal are the key districts for potato production. Kufri Ashoka, Kufri Pukhraj, Kufri Chandramukhi, etc., are some of the popular potato varieties cultivated in Haryana.
Jharkhand
Jharkhand is a state rich in natural resources, which is now emerging as a player in potato production with its contribution of 705 thousand tonnes. Its districts of Ranchi and East Singhbhum are the major contributors. The state's share of total production is around 1.20%, which is comparatively low. However, with the state's agricultural development, the numbers have the potential to increase. The prominent potato varieties grown in Jharkhand are Kufri Sindhuri and Kufri Jyoti.
Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh produces approximately 618.19 thousand tonnes of potatoes. The state has seen a significant growth in potato cultivation mainly because of improved agricultural facilities. Its share of 1.06% comes from Durg and Raipur. The popular potato varieties cultivated in this state are Kufri Badshah, Kufri Jyoti, Kufri Chandramukhi, and many others.
|
State |
Production (thousand tonnes) |
Percent Share |
|
Uttar Pradesh |
20,382.48 |
34.80 |
|
West Bengal |
13,763.08 |
23.50 |
|
Bihar |
7,386 |
12.61 |
|
Gujarat |
4,524 |
7.72 |
|
Madhya Pradesh |
3,897.63 |
6.65 |
|
Punjab |
3,312 |
5.65 |
|
Assam |
797.56 |
1.36 |
|
Haryana |
746 |
1.27 |
|
Jharkhand |
705 |
1.20 |
|
Chhattisgarh |
618.19 |
1.06 |
Final Thoughts
The importance of potato production in India can be easily understood from its widespread use in various dishes. From a diverse range of potato varieties cultivated in India, the cultivation of high-yielding varieties has further enhanced potato cultivation, improving the economic importance of potatoes. However, it is important to note that the drastic climate change over the years and global warming are likely to have an intense effect on the growth and overall potato market in India.
Frequently Asked Questions On Potato Producing States in India
1. Which state is the largest producer of potatoes in India?
Uttar Pradesh is the largest producer of potatoes in India.
2. What is India's rank in potato production?
India ranks second in potato production after China.
3. Which city in India is famous for potatoes?
Agra and other cities like Farrukhabad and Meerut are famous for potatoes.
4. What is a potato called in India?
Potatoes in India are commonly called Aloo or Batata.
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