ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute

What ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute does

ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (ICAR-CTCRI) is a constituent unit of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under India's Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, established on 1 July 1963 at Sreekariyam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, with a Regional Station in Bhubaneswar, Odisha (1976). It is India's designated national institute for tropical tuber crops research — covering cassava, sweet potato, yams, taro, tannia, elephant foot yam, arrowroot, and Chinese potato — and serves as the national repository of approximately 6,000 germplasm accessions. The institute operates five research divisions (Crop Improvement, Crop Production, Crop Protection, Crop Utilization, Extension & Social Sciences) and coordinates the All India Coordinated Research Project on Tuber Crops (AICRPTC) across 21 centres, reaching farmers and tribal communities in more than 20 states whose livelihoods depend on these crops.

The institute's core technology portfolio spans genetic improvement (biofortified varieties such as Bhu Sona and Bhu Krishna sweet potato, the Jamuni Purple Taro), crop management technologies (Minisett rapid multiplication, micronutrient foliar formulations, super absorbent polymer, biocapsules), post-harvest and value-addition technologies (vacuum fried chips, resistant starch, gluten-free foods, post-harvest machineries), and the E-Crop precision agriculture platform — a sensor- and model-driven advisory system for irrigation, fertilization, and pest/disease management, priced at Rs. 600,000 in India and Rs. 1.5 million globally for licensing.

ICAR-CTCRI's revenue model rests on three streams: (1) core ICAR government grants for basic, strategic, and applied research, (2) technology licensing and commercialization to industry and entrepreneurs with one-time/perpetual licence fees ranging from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 1.5 million plus 18% GST, and (3) training, consultancy, and analytical services delivered through its Techno Incubation Centre, skill training platform, and outreach via KVK, FPOs (e.g., Kudumbashree), and government campaigns. Customer segments are diversified across smallholder/tribal farmers (primary), agricultural research institutions, FPOs, and government departments; commercial revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute

Legal name

ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute

Website

https://ctcri.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Research and Technology Development

NAICS

Vegetable and Melon Farming (1112), Potato Farming (111211), Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (3253)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Agricultural Services (700), Agricultural Chemicals (2870)

akta.pro primary industry

Cassava (Tapioca) Farming (AFAGAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sweet Potato Farming (Starch/Industrial Use) (AFAGAEAE), Other Starch Root & Tuber Farming (Yams, Taro, Arrowroot) (AFAGAEAJ), Field Mapping, GIS & Digital Agronomy (Zoning, Prescription Maps, Yield Maps, Spatial Analytics) (AFAGALAG), Nutrient Management Planning & Fertility Programs (AFACABAB)

Keywords

• Tropical tuber crops research
• Agricultural technology licensing
• Biofortified crop varieties
• Precision agriculture technology
• Post-harvest processing technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Thiruvananthapuram

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Technology Licensing and Commercialization: ICAR-CTCRI commercializes its developed technologies through licensing agreements with companies and organizations. Technologies available for licensing include biofortified varieties, crop management technologies, healthy foods, shelf-life extending technologies, post-harvest machineries, and precision agriculture solutions. Licensing fees range from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 500,000 plus applicable taxes.
2. Government Research Grants: Core funding from Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for conducting basic, strategic and applied research on tropical tuber crops. Includes support for All India Coordinated Research Project on Tuber Crops (AICRPTC) with 21 centres.
3. Training and Consultancy Services: Revenue generation through skill training programs, analytical services, and consultancy engagements with farmers, industries, and agricultural institutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ICAR-CTCRI conducts basic, strategic, and applied research on edible tropical tuber crops (cassava, sweet potato, yams, taro, tannia, elephant foot yam, arrowroot, Chinese potato) and commercializes the resulting technologies. The institute develops and licenses high-yielding biofortified crop varieties, crop management technologies, post-harvest processing technologies, food products, and precision agriculture solutions such as E-Crop, primarily through one-time perpetual licensing agreements with companies, Farmer Producer Organizations, and government bodies.

Product overview

ICAR-CTCRI operates as a research institute offering a diverse portfolio of agricultural products and technologies focused on tropical tuber crops. The core offerings include biofortified crop varieties (Bhu Sona, Bhu Krishna sweet potatoes, Jamuni Purple Taro), the E-Crop precision agriculture technology, and various crop management technologies including micronutrient formulations, planting material production (Minisett Technology), and biocapsules. The institute also provides food processing technologies (gluten-free products, vacuum fried chips, resistant starch), post-harvest machineries, and online tools (Cassava Protector, Export System, Farmers Corner). Services include Techno Incubation Centre, analytical services, consultancy, and academic programmes. The institute's technology transfer program commercializes these products with licensing fees ranging from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 600,000 for various technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• E-Crop: A precision agriculture technology that helps farmers manage natural resources through accurate measurement of soil moisture, temperature, nutrient content and weather parameters, providing advisories on irrigation, fertilizer application, pest and disease identification.

Products and services

• Jamuni Purple Taro Variety Anthocyanin-rich purple-fleshed taro variety commercialised by ICAR-CTCRI, with vibrant purple flesh, robust growth, high yield potential and 7-8 month maturity; intended for food processors, seed companies and farmers seeking nutritionally enriched tropical tuber crop varieties.
• Biofortified Sweet Potato Varieties (Bhu Sona and Bhu Krishna) Orange-fleshed (Bhu Sona) and purple-fleshed (Bhu Krishna) sweet potato varieties enriched with beta-carotene and anthocyanins, developed to combat malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies; offered to seed companies, FPOs and government nutrition programs for licensing.
• E-Crop Precision Agriculture Technology Precision agriculture decision-support technology that accurately measures soil moisture, temperature, nutrient content and weather parameters, and uses crop growth models to deliver timely advisories on irrigation, fertilizer application, and pest/disease identification for farmers and agri-businesses; licensed at Rs. 600,000 + 18% GST in India and Rs. 1,500,000 + 18% GST globally.
• Minisett Technology for Quality Planting Material Production Rapid multiplication technology for tropical tuber crops that reduces planting material cost by 30-40% and enhances multiplication ratio (cassava 1:60 from 1:10; yams 1:24 from 1:4; elephant foot yam 1:15 from 1:3); licensed to seed producers, FPOs and agri-enterprises at Rs. 100,000 + 18% GST.
• Micro-nutrient Foliar Formulations for Tropical Tuber Crops Five site-specific micronutrient foliar formulations developed through soil inventorisation and SSNM experiments for cassava (acid soils; neutral to alkaline soils), elephant foot yam, yams and sweet potato; licensed to agri-input companies at Rs. 250,000 + 18% GST.
• Super Absorbent Polymer from Cassava Tapioca starch-based super absorbent polymer for soil application that absorbs and slowly releases water, improving porosity, water-holding capacity and soil microflora; licensed at Rs. 500,000 + 18% GST.
• Biocapsules (Trichoderma and Bacillus formulations) Encapsulated beneficial microorganisms (Trichoderma asperellum, endophytic Bacillus sp., and rhizospheric Bacillus sp.) for plant growth promotion, bio-protection and bio-fertilization in tropical tuber crops; offered to bio-input companies for licensing.
• Vacuum Fried Sweet Potato Chips Technology Low-fat chip production technology for orange and purple sweet potatoes with 50.30% lower oil retention than deep-fat frying and higher retention of carotenoids (6.81 mg/100g) and anthocyanins (57.44 mg/100g); licensed to food processors at Rs. 300,000 + 18% GST.
• Resistant Starch from Cassava and Sweet Potato RS4 and RS5 enriched cassava and sweet potato starches with medium glycemic index (55-65) suitable for diabetic foods, low-calorie foods and prebiotic applications; licensed at Rs. 100,000 per RS type + 18% GST.
• Post-Harvest Machineries (Chinese Potato Grader, Mobile Starch Extractor, Cassava Chipping Machine) Post-harvest equipment portfolio including a power-operated Chinese potato grader (1000 kg/hr capacity, 96% efficiency), multipurpose Mobile Starch Extractor, and Cassava Chipping Machine (30-1100 kg/hr output); licensed to equipment manufacturers and FPOs at Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000 + 18% GST.
• Elephant Foot Yam Flakes (Chena Ada) Value-added convenience product made from elephant foot yam, released into the market for commercial distribution as a ready-to-use processed tuber crop ingredient.
• New Sweet Potato Variety for Tribal Food Security Sweet potato variety developed by ICAR-CTCRI specifically for tribal food security programmes, intended for deployment under Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) and related government welfare schemes.
• Cassava Protector (Online Expert System) Web-based expert system for cassava crop protection and disease management, providing online advisory support to cassava growers.
• Cassava Export System (Online Tool) Online system providing cassava export documentation, procedures and guidance for Indian exporters and aggregators.
• Techno Incubation Centre Services Incubation services for entrepreneurs and startups building businesses around ICAR-CTCRI's tuber crop-based technologies and value chains.
• Analytical Services (Soil, Plant, Water and Tuber Crop Testing) Fee-based laboratory analytical services for soil, plant, water and tuber crop samples provided to researchers, farmers, industries and institutions.
• Skill Training Programs on Tuber Crop Technologies Online and on-site skill training programmes covering tuber crop cultivation, processing, post-harvest handling and value addition, targeted at farmers, FPOs, entrepreneurs and extension professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces planting material costs by 30-40%
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CISSA (Centre for Indian Systems of Science and Astrology)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025ICAR-CTCRI and CISSA joined hands to strengthen Farmer Producer Organizations in Kerala. The partnership focuses on enhancing agricultural productivity and market access for tuber crop farmers through FPOs.
• KudumbashreecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025ICAR-CTCRI transferred 12 tuber-based food technologies to Kudumbashree, a women's self-help group network in Kerala. This partnership aims to create income generation opportunities for women through processing and value addition of tuber crops.
• Sree Gokulam Medical College, VenjaramooduminorOthers · 1 March 2025MoU signed for cashless treatment at CGHS rates for ICAR-CTCRI staff, providing healthcare benefits to institute employees.
• Karunya Institute of Technology and SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025ICAR-CTCRI signed MoU with Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences for Academic & Research Collaboration, fostering innovation and knowledge exchange in agricultural research.
• AICRPTC (All India Coordinated Research Project on Tuber Crops)coreOthersICAR-CTCRI serves as the headquarters for AICRPTC which has 21 centres across India for testing and popularizing location-specific tuber crop technologies.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bayer Crop Science: Global agricultural inputs and seed company with a broad crop protection and seed portfolio. Comparable to ICAR-CTCRI as a competitor in crop improvement and farm-level technology adoption, but with substantially larger commercial R&D and global distribution.
• ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics): CGIAR institute headquartered in Hyderabad, India, focused on dryland crops (sorghum, pearl millet, pigeonpea, chickpea, groundnut). Comparable as a CGIAR-aligned, India-based crop research institution with germplasm and varietal development mandate, but with limited root/tuber crop overlap.
• Syngenta: Global agricultural science and technology company with seeds and crop protection across major crops. Comparable to ICAR-CTCRI as a competing developer of improved varieties and crop technologies, with materially larger commercial R&D and global reach.
• Corteva Agriscience: Global agriculture company with seed and crop protection businesses across major field crops. Comparable to ICAR-CTCRI as a competing provider of improved varieties and crop technologies, with a much larger commercial footprint and faster variety development cycles.
• Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI): India's premier national agricultural research institute under ICAR, with a broader mandate across crops, soils, and post-harvest technology. Comparable to ICAR-CTCRI as a sibling ICAR institution with similar operating model, technology transfer apparatus, and pan-India extension linkages.
• UPL Limited: Indian multinational agricultural solutions company with seeds, crop protection, and post-harvest offerings. Comparable to ICAR-CTCRI as an India-based agricultural technology provider operating at the intersection of inputs, seeds, and farmer-extension services.

Direct peers

• International Potato Center (CIP): CGIAR center with a global mandate for sweet potato and potato research, including biofortified orange-fleshed sweet potato. Highly comparable to ICAR-CTCRI on sweet potato variety development, nutrition-focused breeding, and germplasm management.
• National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Nigeria: Nigerian government research institute under the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, focused on cassava, yam, cocoyam, sweet potato, and ginger. Directly comparable to ICAR-CTCRI on mandate, mandate crops, and government-funded tropical tuber crop research.
• International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA): CGIAR research institute headquartered in Ibadan, Nigeria, with one of the world's largest cassava, yam, and banana/plantain breeding programs. Closest direct counterpart to ICAR-CTCRI in mandate, crop focus (tropical root and tuber crops), and public-sector R&D model.
• EMBRAPA (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation): Brazil's national agricultural research corporation with major cassava and tropical crop programmes, including cassava breeding, processing, and biofuel applications. Comparable to ICAR-CTCRI as a public-sector tropical tuber crop research powerhouse with broad technology commercialization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/icarctcri
• Facebookfacebook.com/icar.ctcri.9
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/central-tuber-crops-research-institute-ctcri-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute