Developed by the Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI) of India, the new variety of dark purple-black Shimla has a high yield compared to traditional varieties.

The variety is zoned for the plains of North India. The average yield of a traditional variety in Punjab is 30 tons / ha, and the national average is 23 tons / ha.

Dr. Brajesh Singh, Leading Researcher and Head of the Department of Physiology of Crops, Biochemistry and Post-Harvest Technology, Central Potato Research Institute reports: “Compared to the traditional variety, our Shimla variety is very rich in antioxidants and has moderate disease resistance. such as late rot.

It is easy to prepare, it is devoid of discoloration after cooking. This is a special potato, rich in antioxidants, and in addition to other nutritional properties, with excellent taste. ”

The tubers of the hybrid are dark purple-black, egg-shaped with medium-deep eyes, creamy pulp and good shelf life.

Singh said the variety was developed and approved by the Central Committee for the Production of Varieties (CVRC) for commercial cultivation. According to Singh, another 2-3 years will pass before the new variety reaches end users.

According to Singh, potatoes can play the role of a nutritional source, but there are certain misconceptions in society regarding its nutritional value. The most common misconception is that potatoes lead to obesity.

Dr. Bragesh Singh says: “With a fat content of less than 0.1% and a very low calorie content, this potato cannot in any way cause obesity. "Potatoes are known to absorb a significant amount of fat during frying, which is the usual way to consume potatoes according to Indian recipes."