Thu, 17 Jul 2025

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 Spud-tacular: How India became a french fry superpower

India's position as a leading exporter of french fries has spurred innovation on potato farms.
India's fortunes in the potato industry have been turned around by French fries, making it the world's second-largest spud producer and a major player in exports. Gujarat, a state in northwest India, has become the hub for French fry production, with factories belonging to companies like McCain Foods and HyFun Foods churning out millions of chips every year. The success story began when farmers like Jitesh Patel, who comes from a family of cotton farmers, started growing potatoes in 2007. Initially, they tried table potatoes but switched to varieties used by the food industry after French fry makers set up shop in their state. Since then, exports have skyrocketed, with India shipping over 181,773 tonnes of frozen fries to countries like the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia. The price competitiveness of Indian fries has been a major factor in their success, with Devendra K, an expert on the potato market, attributing it to "abundant agricultural produce, cost-effective manufacturing, and growing focus on quality standards". Farmers like Jitesh Patel have also been innovating, experimenting with new methods such as drip irrigation systems and fertilizing with cow manure. Jain Irrigation Systems is developing seeds for agriculture, including potato plants, using tissue culture techniques to clone plants with desirable traits. However, challenges remain in the industry, particularly in terms of cold storage facilities, transportation, and electricity supply. Only about 10-15% of India's cold storage facilities are suitable for storing frozen foods, and firms need to invest in modernizing their infrastructure to meet demand. Despite these challenges, India is poised to continue its rise as a major player in the global potato industry, with companies like HyFun Foods expanding their operations and investing in new technologies. For farmers like Jitesh Patel, the future looks bright, with a secure contract farming system that provides good returns for their yield.
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