Gandhinagar: In a period of over the last two decades, India has evolved from importing French fries to becoming an exporter of the same, thanks to its booming processed potato sector. At the heart of this turnaround is Gujarat, which now leads the country in the cultivation and export of French fry and wafer-grade potatoes.

Back in 2004–05, India produced less than 1 lakh tonnes of processing-grade potatoes, grown over just 4,000 hectares. Fast forward to 2024–25, the figure has skyrocketed to 11.5 lakh tonnes across 37,000 hectares, a tenfold increase in production and nearly ninefold rise in area under cultivation.

Gujarat has emerged as the largest producer of processed potatoes and the leading exporter of French fries and wafers in recent years. In India, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab follow Gujarat in the production of processed potatoes.

Gujarat cultivates processing-grade potatoes, which are extensively supplied to processed food industries across the country for making French fries, chips, or frozen foods. In 2024–25, the state produced 48.59 lakh tonnes of potatoes, of which over 25% are processed and the remaining are mostly Kufri, the potatoes used for making sabjis.

Approximately 60% of the processed potatoes in Gujarat go into making wafers, while the remaining 40% are used for French fries. The districts of Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, and Aravalli have emerged as the top contributors, supplying high-quality chip-grade potatoes across the country and to international markets.

In 2024–25, these three districts collectively cultivated potatoes across 1.19 lakh hectares, producing 38 lakh tonnes with an average productivity of 32.36 tonnes per hectare. Banaskantha alone contributed 18.70 lakh tonnes—its highest ever—from 61,016 hectares, with a productivity of 30.65 tonnes per hectare.

Sabarkantha followed with 12.97 lakh tonnes from 37,999 hectares at a higher average productivity of 34.13 tonnes per hectare. Meanwhile, Aravalli, despite being a more recent entrant into large-scale potato farming, recorded 6.99 lakh tonnes from 20,515 hectares, with a commendable productivity of 34.05 tonnes per hectare.

Northern Gujarat’s suitability for potato cultivation is bolstered by its fertile soils, favourable climate, and adoption of modern farming practices. Varieties like Lady Rosetta, Kufri Chipsona, and Santana, known for high dry matter and low sugar content—ideal for crisp fries—are widely grown. These are supplied to domestic food processors, quick-service restaurants, and are also exported, particularly to markets in the Middle East.

To support this growing industry, Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, and Aravalli are equipped with advanced cold storage infrastructure that helps maintain quality and ensures year-round supply to processing units and global buyers. DeshGujarat