Kufri Jamunia: A Biofortified Purple Potato for Nutritional Security

Kufri Jamunia: India’s Nutrient-Rich Purple Potato Variety

Why in the News?

• ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute (ICAR-CPRI) has developed nutrient-rich coloured potato varieties, including Kufri Neelkanth, Kufri Manik and Kufri Jamunia.
• Kufri Jamunia, officially released in 2024, is a purple-fleshed potato with enhanced nutritional value.
• It is being highlighted as a potential tool to address hidden hunger and improve nutritional security.

What is Hidden Hunger?

• Hidden hunger occurs when people consume enough calories but do not receive adequate vitamins and minerals from their diet.
• Biofortification is an approach in which the nutritional content of crops is increased through plant breeding.
• Unlike conventional fortification, where nutrients are added during food processing, biofortification incorporates higher nutrient levels directly into the crop.

Key Features of Kufri Jamunia

• It is a medium-maturing, biofortified table potato variety.
• The tubers have dark purple skin and purple flesh, mainly due to natural pigments such as anthocyanins.
• It has shown stable performance in multi-location trials and is recommended for cultivation in the North Indian plains.
• Under recommended cultivation practices, it can produce around 32–35 tonnes per hectare.
• It has good storage quality, with low rotting and limited weight loss.
• Its purple colour and mealy texture also make it suitable for various traditional and processed food products.

Nutritional Importance

• Kufri Jamunia contains higher levels of vitamin C, anthocyanins and carotenoids compared with Kufri Neelkanth and Kufri Manik.
• It also contains enhanced amounts of iron and zinc.
• Anthocyanins and carotenoids act as important antioxidant compounds.
• Its improved nutritional profile can contribute to dietary diversity and efforts to reduce micronutrient deficiencies.

Other Coloured Potato Varieties

• Kufri Neelkanth: First purple-skinned specialty potato variety developed by ICAR-CPRI; released in 2018.
• Kufri Manik: Released in 2021; has deep red tubers and contains anthocyanins, zinc and iron.
• Kufri Jamunia: Released in 2024; has purple flesh and a higher concentration of several nutritional compounds.

Significance

• Biofortified crops can improve nutrition through commonly consumed foods.
• Kufri Jamunia combines nutritional benefits with good agricultural performance, making it useful for both farmers and consumers.
• Its wider adoption could support efforts towards nutritional security and reduction of hidden hunger.

Practice Question

Q. With reference to biofortified potato varieties developed by ICAR-CPRI, consider the following statements:

1. Kufri Jamunia derives its purple colour mainly from naturally occurring pigments such as anthocyanins. 
2. Unlike conventional food fortification, biofortification enhances the nutritional content of crops through plant breeding. 
3. Kufri Neelkanth was released after Kufri Manik and Kufri Jamunia and is the latest among the three varieties. 
4. Kufri Jamunia has been recommended for cultivation in the North Indian plains and has shown stable performance in multi-location trials.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 2 and 4 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Answer: B. 1, 2 and 4 only

Explanation

• Kufri Jamunia has a purple skin and flesh, mainly due to natural pigments such as anthocyanins. Hence, Statement 1 is Correct.
• Biofortification increases the nutrient content of crops through plant breeding, whereas conventional fortification adds nutrients during food processing. Hence, Statement 2 is Correct.
• Kufri Neelkanth was released in 2018, Kufri Manik in 2021, and Kufri Jamunia in 2024. Hence, Statement 3 is Incorrect.
• Kufri Jamunia has shown stable performance in multi-location trials and is recommended for cultivation in the North Indian plains. Hence, Statement 4 is Correct.