Lucknow — In a significant announcement, Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Horticulture, Agricultural Marketing, Agri-Foreign Trade, and Agricultural Export (Independent Charge), Shri Dinesh Pratap Singh, addressed the media at his official residence in Lucknow, unveiling two major developments in the state’s agricultural sector.
₹111 Crore Approved for International Potato Centre in Agra
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved ₹111 crore for the establishment of the South Asia Regional Centre (CSARC) of the International Potato Centre (CIP) in Singhna, Agra.
This landmark project, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, aims to boost potato and sweet potato productivity, post-harvest management, and value addition. It is expected to enhance food and nutritional security, increase farmer incomes, and create employment opportunities.
The facility will promote cutting-edge research and innovation to develop high-yielding, climate-resilient, and nutrient-rich varieties of potatoes and sweet potatoes. The centre is envisioned as a product of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s foresight and commitment to empowering farmers in Uttar Pradesh.
The chosen site in Singhna was finalized following an on-site review by Minister Dinesh Pratap Singh. The coordination between departments has also ensured resolution of logistical challenges, including access routes via the Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary (Keetham).
To accelerate the project, a high-level delegation, including India’s Agriculture Secretary Shri Devesh Chaturvedi and Additional Chief Secretary of Horticulture and Food Processing Shri B.L. Meena, visited the International Potato Centre headquarters in Lima, Peru, in April 2025.
Uttar Pradesh Mango Festival 2025 from July 4–6 in Lucknow
Minister Singh also announced the much-anticipated Uttar Pradesh Mango Festival 2025, to be held from July 4 to 6, 2025, at Awadh Shilpgram, Sector 9, Amar Shaheed Path, Lucknow.
Uttar Pradesh leads the country in mango cultivation, with 3.25 lakh hectares under mango orchards, contributing 13.5% of the national area and 27% of total production, estimated at 61.46 lakh metric tonnes in 2024–25.
The state cultivates over 600 varieties of mangoes, including Dussehri, Langda, Chausa, Amrapali, Ramkela, Ratol, Lucknow Safeda, and Bombay Green, with major producing districts including Saharanpur, Meerut, Baghpat, Barabanki, Hardoi, Sitapur, Unnao, Ayodhya, Lucknow, Pratapgarh, and Varanasi.
So far in 2025, 13.5 metric tonnes of mangoes have been exported. In 2024, the state exported 40.31 metric tonnes, including shipments to Japan.
The Mango Festival 2025 will feature:
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Exhibition of over 600 mango varieties
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Mango-based culinary competitions
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Buyer-seller meetings
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Cultural performances
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Workshops on post-harvest handling, pest control, and export opportunities
This year’s festival will also see participation from horticulture departments and progressive farmers from states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and others.
In a forward-looking initiative, a Fruit Testing and Treatment Centre near Jewar Airport has been proposed to facilitate international exports of mangoes and other fruits from Uttar Pradesh.
These two landmark initiatives mark a major push in strengthening the agricultural economy, increasing farmer profitability, and positioning Uttar Pradesh as a national and global hub for horticultural excellence.
