Kufri Seed Potato Research: India's Mountain Potato Heritage

The Central Potato Research Institute at Kufri near Shimla has been developing potato varieties suited to Indian conditions since 1949. The high-altitude cool climate provides ideal conditions for producing disease-free certified seed potatoes. Varieties named after the institute - Kufri Jyoti, Kufri Chandramukhi, Kufri Sindhuri, Kufri Chipsona - are grown across India. Traditional Pahadi farmers used local potato varieties selected over generations for adaptation to mountain conditions. The institute's work building on traditional farmer knowledge through systematic breeding has produced varieties suited to different altitudes, soil types, and end uses. Seed potato farming around Kufri provides premium income to farmers who supply certified seed to plains farmers.