Potato is one of the major non-cereal food crops and currently ranks 4th in production in the world after maize, wheat and rice. The productivity of potato in India is quite low (9.97 t/ha) during the period of inception of AICRP (1970-71). The ample scope of improving the productivity of potato in sub-tropical climates of India was felt AICRP on Potato was established to carry out region specific trials on evaluation of new hybrids, agronomic practices, potato based cropping systems, control measures for various diseases and pests, potato storage practices and identification of methods for reducing post-harvest losses. In view of these eventualities the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Potato was initiated during 4th Five Year Plan in the year 1970-71. Presently, it has a nationwide network of 25 centers located in distinct agro-climatic regions of the country. Seven of these centers are based at CPRI regional stations, 17 in different State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and 1 voluntary center at Ranichauri in Uttarakhand. The area, production and productivity has touched a hike of 877, 2650 and 302 per cent respectively during 2016-17 evidenced the symbiotic contribution of CPRI and AICRP (P) on potato industry in the country.
At present, AICRP (Potato) with it’s headquarter at CPRI, Shimla has a nationwide network of 25 centers (7 CPRI based centers, 15 SAU’s based centers, 2 CAU’s based centers and 1 Voluntary center) located in distinct agro-climatic regions of the country. Details of these centers are as under
| Location/State/Institute/University | Established in | |
| Central Potato Research Institute based AICRP centers | ||
| Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh | CPRI Regional Station | 2006 (X Plan) |
| Jalandhar, Punjab | CPRI Regional Station | 1993 (VIII Plan) |
| Kufri, Himachal Pradesh (SPU)* | CPRI Regional Station | 1976 (V Plan) |
| Modipuram, Uttar Pradesh(SPU)* | CPRI Regional Station | 1976 (V Plan) |
| Ootacamund, Tamil Nadu | CPRI Regional Station | 1987 (VII Plan) |
| Patna, Bihar | CPRI Regional Station | 1971 (IV Plan) |
| Shillong, Meghalaya | CPRI Regional Station | 1971 (IV Plan) |
| SAU based regular AICRP centers | ||
| Bhubaneswar, Orissa | OUA&T, Bhubaneswar | 1971 (IV Plan) |
| Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh | JNKVV, Jabalpur | 1971 (IV Plan) |
| Deesa, Gujarat | SKDAU, SK Nagar | 1971 (IV Plan) |
| Dharwad, Karnataka | UAS, Dharwad | 1989 (VII Plan) |
| Dholi, Bihar | Dr RPCAU, Pusa | 1994 (VII Plan) |
| Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh | NDUA&T, Faizabad | 1987 (VII Plan) |
| Hassan, Karnataka | UHS, Bagalkot | 1972 (IV Plan) |
| Hisar, Haryana | CSS HAU, Hisar | 1975 (V Plan) |
| Jorhat, Assam | AAU, Jorhat | 1971 (IV Plan) |
| Kalyani, West Bengal | BCKV, Kalyani | 1975 (V Plan) |
| Kota, Rajasthan | AU, Kota | 1971 (IV Plan) |
| Pantnagar, Uttarakhand | GBPUA&T, Pantnagar | 1975 (V Plan) |
| Raipur, Chhatisgarh | IGKV, Raipur | 1999 (IX Plan) |
| Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir | SKUAST (K), Srinagar | 1972 (IV Plan) |
| Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh | CSAUA&T, Kanpur | 2008 (XI Plan) |
| Pune, Maharashtra | MPKV, Rahuri | 2008 (XI Plan) |
| Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh | CAU, Imphal | 2008 (XI Plan) |
| SAU based voluntary centers | ||
| Ranichauri, Uttarakhand | UHF, Ranichauri | 1984 (VI Plan) |
* SPU = Seed Preparatory Units