Gandhinagar: Gujarat has emerged as the largest producer of processed potatoes and the leading exporter of French fries and chips in recent years. This achievement will be prominently highlighted at the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) for the North Gujarat region.

In India, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab follow Gujarat in the production of processed potatoes. Gujarat’s favorable climate supports the cultivation of potato varieties ideal for frozen potato-based products. Leading manufacturers such as HyFun Foods, McCain Foods, and Iscon Balaji Foods have established operations in North Gujarat.

In 2004–05, the production of processed potatoes was less than 1 lakh tonnes, cultivated in just 4,000 hectares. Over the last two decades, production has increased more than tenfold to 11.50 lakh tonnes across 37,000 hectares. The cultivation area also expanded nearly nine times. Increased procurement has, in turn, brought significant benefits to local farmers.

Gujarat cultivates processing-grade potatoes, which are extensively supplied to food industries across the country for making French fries, chips, and frozen foods. According to the Gujarat Agriculture Department, in 2024–25 the state produced 48.59 lakh tonnes of potatoes, of which over 25% were processed. The remaining were mostly Kufri varieties used for domestic consumption. Of the processed output, around 60% is used for chips and 40% for French fries. Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, and Aravalli are the key contributing districts, meeting the rising demand in India.

Banaskantha leads potato production in Gujarat

In 2022–23, Banaskantha produced 15.79 lakh tonnes of potatoes from 53,548 hectares, with a productivity of 29.5 tonnes per hectare. In 2023–24, the district recorded 15.62 lakh tonnes from 52,089 hectares at 30 tonnes per hectare. In 2024–25, production rose to 18.70 lakh tonnes from 61,016 hectares, with a productivity of 30.65 tonnes per hectare—the highest in Gujarat.

Following Banaskantha, Sabarkantha and Aravalli have also recorded significant production. In 2024–25, Sabarkantha produced 12.97 lakh tonnes from 37,999 hectares at a productivity of 34.13 tonnes per hectare. Though potato farming in Aravalli began more recently, the district contributed substantially with 6.99 lakh tonnes from 20,515 hectares at 34.05 tonnes per hectare.

Advanced cold storage facilities boost potato sector

According to government figures, there are 67 active warehouses, including cold storages, registered with the Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority, Government of India. Of these, Banaskantha has 16, Sabarkantha and Aravalli together account for 10, Mehsana leads with 30, and Patan has 11.

The northern belt of Gujarat has become ideal for producing chip-grade and French fry-grade potatoes due to its fertile soil, favorable climate, and advanced farming practices. Varieties such as Lady Rosetta, Kufri Chipsona, and Santana, known for their high dry matter and low sugar content, are cultivated here—making them perfect for crispy golden fries. These potatoes are supplied to frozen food processors, quick-service restaurants, and are also exported, particularly to the Middle East. DeshGujarat