The purple potato Kufri Jamunia is back in the news because of a new explainer from the Press Information Bureau (PIB), published on October 18, 2026. The variety itself is not new. According to PIB, ICAR-CPRI’s purple-fleshed potato was officially released in 2024. What is new is the PIB explainer, which sets out its nutrition and farming claims. This article explains what PIB says and what it leaves unsaid.
What is the purple potato Kufri Jamunia?
Kufri Jamunia was developed by ICAR-CPRI, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s Central Potato Research Institute. According to PIB, it has dark purple skin and purple flesh, with oblong tubers, shallow eyes and a mealy texture. It is a medium-maturing variety, and each plant produces 10 to 12 medium to large tubers.
PIB places it among ICAR-CPRI’s coloured potatoes, alongside Kufri Neelkanth, released in 2018, and Kufri Manik, released in 2021. It says Kufri Jamunia has higher levels of ascorbic acid, anthocyanin and carotenoids than those two.
Purple potato nutrition: what PIB claims
PIB gives a comparison per 100 grams against a conventional yellow-skinned potato:
- Vitamin C: 42.75 mg, against 23.15 mg
- Zinc: 2.28 mg, against 0.28 mg
- Iron: 3.22 mg, against 0.57 mg
By our arithmetic, that is about 1.8 times the vitamin C, roughly 8 times the zinc and about 5.6 times the iron. PIB also reports 42.05 mg per 100 g of anthocyanins in the flesh and 80.66 mg in the skin. Anthocyanins are the pigments behind the purple colour, and PIB links them to high antioxidant content.
Yield and storage of this purple potato
According to PIB, Kufri Jamunia produces 32 to 35 tonnes per hectare under recommended cultivation practices. It reports about 49 tonnes per hectare in station trials at 90 days, with marketable yield reaching nearly 90% of total production. PIB adds that the tubers have medium dormancy of around 6 to 8 weeks, with good storage quality, low rottage and minimal weight loss. It says the variety has been recommended for cultivation in the North Indian plains, based on multi-location trials.
Who might benefit from the purple potato
PIB frames the variety as a tool against hidden hunger, where people get enough calories but too few vitamins and minerals. It describes biofortification as improving nutrient content through plant breeding, rather than adding nutrients during processing. PIB says both farmers and consumers could benefit, and lists uses such as curry, paratha, puri, raita, halwa, upma, dosa batter, and flour for bakery items, soups and cookies. For related reading, see our explainer on crop biotechnology, our report on India’s bioeconomy roadmap, and our look at global farmer insights for 2026.
Limits of the purple potato claims
The comparison is PIB’s own, against one reference, a conventional yellow-skinned potato. The release does not say which cultivar that is, how the samples were prepared, or whether the figures apply to raw or cooked potatoes. It also does not report health outcomes, so it does not show how much a serving would change anyone’s diet or nutrition.
The explainer gives no price, no information on seed or tuber availability, and no figures on how many farmers grow the variety. The yield figures come from trials, and results on farms can differ.
My view on the purple potato
As a writer, I think the appeal is easy to see. A familiar food that looks distinctive and carries more of certain nutrients is a simple message, and biofortification can reach people through meals they already eat. I would still read the numbers carefully. A single comparison against one ordinary potato is a start, not proof of a public health effect. I would like to see availability, pricing and independent nutrient testing, and to know how much of the crop is reaching markets, before judging how much difference it makes.
FAQ: purple potato Kufri Jamunia
When was Kufri Jamunia released?
According to PIB, ICAR-CPRI officially released it in 2024. The PIB explainer was published on October 18, 2026.
How does it compare with a common potato?
PIB says per 100 g it has 42.75 mg vitamin C, 2.28 mg zinc and 3.22 mg iron, against 23.15 mg, 0.28 mg and 0.57 mg for a conventional yellow-skinned potato.
Where can I buy it?
The PIB explainer does not say. It gives no price or availability, only that the variety is recommended for the North Indian plains.