Gujarat tops in production and export of processed potatoes in India-OxBig News Network

Gujarat recorded a total production of 48.59 lakh tonnes of potatoes in the 2024–25 season, which includes varieties cultivated for processing into French fries and wafers, officials said on Monday.

The State has emerged as the top producer of processed potatoes in India, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.

The processed potato segment in Gujarat accounts for over 25% of the State’s total potato production. The remaining crop includes table varieties such as Kufri, which are commonly used in household cooking. Of the processed output, approximately 60% is used for wafer production and 40% for French fries.

“In 2004–2005, India produced less than 1 lakh tonnes of processed potatoes across 4,000 hectares. As of 2024–25, the production has risen to 11.50 lakh tonnes cultivated across 37,000 hectares. The increase reflects a tenfold rise in production and a ninefold increase in cultivation area,” officials said.

Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, and Aravalli are the leading districts in Gujarat for potato cultivation. In the 2024–25 season, these three districts together produced 38 lakh tonnes of potatoes over 1.19 lakh hectares, with an average productivity of 32.36 tonnes per hectare.

Banaskantha recorded the highest production with 18.70 lakh tonnes from 61,016 hectares at a productivity rate of 30.65 tonnes per hectare. In 2023–24, the district produced 15.62 lakh tonnes from 52,089 hectares, and in 2022–23, 15.79 lakh tonnes from 53,548 hectares.

“Sabarkantha followed with a production of 12.97 lakh tonnes in 2024–25, cultivated over 37,999 hectares with a productivity of 34.13 tonnes per hectare. Aravalli district produced 6.99 lakh tonnes from 20,515 hectares, with a productivity of 34.05 tonnes per hectare,” they said. 

Processing-grade potato varieties cultivated in Gujarat include Lady Rosetta, Kufri Chipsona, and Santana. These varieties are used by frozen food processors and quick-service restaurants and are also exported, particularly to Middle Eastern countries. The northern districts of Gujarat—Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, and Aravalli—are equipped with cold storage facilities that maintain the supply chain for processed potato products, officials said.