Incremental measures will no longer suffice.
Potatoes sit at the intersection of food security, farmer prosperity and India’s processed food ambitions. The Union Budget 2026 should therefore move beyond incremental support and deliver structural reforms that minimise cold storage losses, eliminate post-harvest wastage and position India as a global leader in value-added potato products.
India’s potato sector has a few non-negotiable priorities and these include:
1. Collective farming to transform farmer economics
The industry today requires clear fiscal incentives for collective farming models. This is a clear requirement especially in the case of processing-grade potato farmers, on the lines of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) which will enable scale, quality assurance and predictable incomes.
2. Cold chain, logistics and processing – At the core of reform
Cold storage, grading and logistics remain weak links in India’s agriculture ecosystem. To unlock value across the supply chain, the industry requests the government for capital subsidies and interest subventions. This will enable introduction of modern, energy- efficient cold storage facilities that will drastically reduce storage losses.
Subsidies for transport and logistics will help lower the cost of moving the produce from farms to factories and ports while the inclusion of potato processing under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) framework will definitely help accelerate capacity creation.
3. Digitalisation is no longer optional
Potato is highly sensitive to heat and water stress and this is one of the biggest risks farmers and the industry faces. That is why companies like HyFarm are working closely with breeders to develop early-maturity, climate-resilient varieties, while also deploying IoT sensors and AI-driven advisories to help farmers adapt in real time.
If Indian potato farming needs to become globally competitive, there is a definitive need to drive rapid adoption of digital technologies, including precision farming, traceability and real-time advisories.
4. Export push with government leadership
While the industry strives to ensure that Indian produce does not just meet local demand, but is also globally compliant, sustainable and export ready, it is also essential to have government support for export-ready logistics and policy alignment.
Dedicated port infrastructure, quicker Phyto clearances and recognition of India’s traceability stack in bilateral trade will help a great deal.
However, if India’s potato industry intends to capture global markets, government-led export roadshows across South East Asia, the Middle East and countries the Indian sub-continent will help a great deal.
5. R&D Investments to secure the future
The industry continues to await scaled-up investments in potato R&D through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) focusing on processing-grade, high-yielding and climate-resilient varieties.
Budget 2026 must mark a clear inflection point—transforming potatoes from a price-sensitive commodity into a high-value, export-driven growth sector aligned with India’s long-term agricultural and economic vision.
Strategic investments in R&D, digitalisation, and exports can create rural jobs, attract private capital and build a globally competitive potato value chain anchored in farmer prosperity.
The author is Chief Executive Officer, HyFarm
Published on January 10, 2026
