GUWAHATI, 29 June 2025: In a major boost for agricultural and industrial growth in the Northeast, global food and beverage giant PepsiCo has joined hands with the Assam government to develop a sustainable potato farming ecosystem and strengthen the chips production value chain in the state.
The announcement was shared by Assam Chief Secretary Dr. Ravi Kota, IAS, who highlighted that farmers in Assam are “finding new ground—literally” through this partnership.
Traditionally, potato cultivation in Assam has been minimal, with near-zero production levels in several districts. The new initiative aims to change that narrative by helping farmers adopt potato farming at scale, supported by robust linkages to the chips processing industry.
The project is also expected to catalyse grassroots economic transformation, providing new opportunities for farmers, promoting self-reliance, and creating jobs in rural areas.
Dr. Kota expressed his appreciation for Jagrut Kotecha, CEO of PepsiCo India, along with Yashika Singh and Sandip Samaddar, acknowledging their commitment to the state and its people.
He noted that as the Tata OSAT facility in Jagiroad gears up to produce an estimated 48 million chips per day, Assam is now poised to play a significant role in India’s “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) mission—“two chips at a time,” as he described it.
Jagrut Kotecha, in his own post, lauded Assam as “where progress meets purpose,” praising the region’s rapid development and the promise of further empowering farmers through this potato-chips ecosystem.
The success of this collaboration, officials said, is the result of the combined leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, whose proactive policy support has enabled the rollout of such an ambitious public–private partnership.
Beyond its economic impact, the project is being seen as a blueprint for similar agri-industrial collaborations that could benefit other states. By connecting farmers directly with value-added processing and global food supply chains, the model promises to enhance rural incomes, ensure sustainable sourcing, and create resilient local economies.
PepsiCo and state officials hope that this effort will not only transform potato farming in Assam but also inspire other partnerships to build a stronger, more competitive, and more self-reliant agriculture sector across India.
Image credit: adgully.com
