High-Value Purple Potato Farming Promoted in Punjab | 16 Mar 2026

Why in News? 

High-value purple potato farming is gaining attention in Punjab after a young farmer successfully promoted its cultivation, demonstrating its potential to generate significantly higher income compared to traditional crops. 

Key Points: 

• Innovative Farming: A 27-year-old farmer from Matta village in Faridkot district of Punjab has promoted the cultivation of purple potatoes. 
• Origin: Purple potatoes are believed to have originated in the Andean region of South America, particularly Bolivia and Peru, where coloured potato varieties have been grown for centuries. 
  • Purple potato cultivation can generate ₹6 lakh to ₹20 lakh per acre, depending on yield and market demand, making it far more profitable than many traditional crops. 
• Nutritional Benefits: Purple potatoes are rich in anthocyanins (powerful antioxidants) and vitamin C, and are considered healthier than conventional potatoes.  
• Indian Variety: In 2024, India introduced its own purple potato variety “Kufri Jamunia”, developed by the Central Potato Research Institute to promote cultivation of nutritionally enriched potato varieties. 
• Crop Duration: The crop duration is about 90–100 days, typically sown between October and November and harvested from February to March, similar to conventional potato crops.  
• Agricultural Significance: The success of purple potato farming highlights the potential for crop diversification and high-value agriculture, offering farmers an alternative to traditional wheat-paddy cropping patterns in Punjab.