Shimla. The ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute (ICAR-CPRI), Shimla, today inaugurated a three-day international training programme on “Potato Excellence and Regional Trainer” for executives of PepsiCo from India and Bangladesh. Being held from October 6 to 8, 2026, the programme aims to strengthen technical capacity and facilitate knowledge exchange on processing potato production, quality management, sustainability and value-chain development.

Welcoming the participants, Dr. Alok Kumar, Head, Division of Social Sciences, ICAR-CPRI, Shimla, outlined the objectives and structure of the programme. He emphasised the importance of developing technically competent professionals and regional trainers equipped with scientific knowledge on potato production, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), quality management and sustainable resource use for application across diverse potato-growing regions.

In his inaugural address, Dr. Jagdev Sharma, Director (Acting), ICAR-CPRI, Shimla, highlighted the increasing importance of processing potatoes in strengthening the potato value chain. He stressed the need for stronger collaboration among research institutions, farmers and the processing industry to improve productivity, processing quality, resource-use efficiency, sustainability and profitability.

Dr. V. K. Gupta, Principal Scientist, ICAR-CPRI, said that the initiative reflects ICAR-CPRI’s commitment to strengthening research-industry-farmer linkages, human resource development and technology dissemination for enhancing the productivity, quality, sustainability and competitiveness of the potato sector. He noted that the participation of PepsiCo executives from India and Bangladesh provides an important platform for regional knowledge exchange and industry-research collaboration for sustainable development of the potato value chain in South Asia.

Highlighting the technical focus of the programme, Dr. Salej Sood, Senior Scientist, ICAR-CPRI, said that a major component of the training is devoted to the processing potato value chain and quality management. The programme also covers post-harvest management, storage practices, reduction of post-harvest losses and maintenance of processing quality, with emphasis on meeting industry requirements consistently. Experts from PepsiCo will share industry perspectives on processing potato production, differences between processing and table potatoes, procurement requirements and critical quality parameters. 

The programme provides an opportunity for participants from India and Bangladesh to exchange experiences and understand regional challenges, technological requirements and emerging opportunities in potato production and processing. It also focuses on emerging technologies and sustainable production approaches, including precision agriculture, digital tools, Good Agricultural Practices, efficient irrigation scheduling, integrated nutrient management and improved resource-use efficiency.

Practical and interactive sessions have been incorporated to provide participants with hands-on exposure and field-oriented learning, enabling them to translate scientific knowledge into practical applications and strengthen their capacity to support farmers and other stakeholders.

The programme has been conceived as an international capacity-building initiative aimed at developing a pool of competent professionals and regional trainers who can contribute to effective technology dissemination, farmer engagement and quality-oriented potato production across different potato-growing regions.

The initiative is expected to further strengthen international cooperation and industry-research partnerships and contribute to the development of a more productive, sustainable and quality-oriented potato value chain in the South Asian region.

SS/NK

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