Spud-tacular Rise: How India Became a French Fry Powerhouse

When back-to-back droughts struck Gujarat in 2001 and 2002, Jitesh Patel knew his family’s cotton farming days were numbered. Returns were low and water was scarce – a deadly combination for cotton. So, like many others in the region, he turned to potatoes. Not just any kind, though. At first, the Patels tried table potatoes meant for household cooking, but the returns remained dismal.

Then came a turning point. In 2007, Patel and his family shifted to cultivating industry-grade potatoes — the kind used for making frozen french fries. That change transformed not just his fortunes, but positioned him at the heart of India’s unlikely rise as a global french fry contender.

Gujarat: India’s Fry Factory

Today, Gujarat has become the epicentre of India’s french fry boom. Global giants like McCain Foods and India’s own HyFun Foods operate massive processing facilities in the state. These plants churn out frozen fries that are shipped across Asia – especially to countries like Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

In just one year leading up to February 2024, India exported over 181,000 tonnes of frozen fries – a staggering 45% increase from the previous year. February alone saw exports top 20,000 tonnes for the first time ever.

Analysts like potato market expert Devendra K attribute the spike to India’s cost advantage. “In 2024, Indian frozen fries were cheaper on average than even Chinese ones,” he says. That price edge has helped India grow quickly in an otherwise competitive space.

Fuelled by Innovation, Backed by Science

This growth hasn’t been accidental. It has taken years of experimentation and adaptation on the part of farmers like Jitesh Patel. An agriculture graduate, Patel has led efforts to introduce efficient farming methods, such as switching from flood irrigation to a more water-conscious drip system as far back as 2003.

To preserve soil fertility, his team uses cow dung as fertiliser and leaves fields fallow during summer. But the real game changer lies underground – in the seed.

Farmers are now collaborating with agricultural tech firms like Jain Irrigation Systems to develop superior potato seeds using tissue culture. This lab-based technique allows technicians to clone virus-free potato plants with high-yield and long-storage properties – critical qualities for fry-grade potatoes.

“Our goal is to create a new variety that won’t brown too quickly due to sugar content, especially during November harvests,” says Vijay Singh, VP of Marketing at Jain Irrigation. The race to find the perfect french fry potato is well underway.

Behind the Boom: Cold Chains and Cracks

While the fields are thriving, India’s frozen food industry still faces serious bottlenecks. Chief among them is infrastructure. Cold storage – essential for maintaining fry quality – is severely limited in both scale and distribution.

“Only about 10–15% of India’s cold storage capacity is suitable for frozen food, and most are concentrated in a handful of states,” says Vijay Kumar Nayak, co-founder of Indo Agri Foods. Rural and remote regions remain underserved, affecting supply chain efficiency.

Compounding the challenge is the lack of refrigerated trucks. Without enough temperature-controlled vehicles, transporting frozen goods over long distances becomes a gamble. Add to that the erratic electricity supply in many parts of India, and you have a system that’s struggling to keep up with soaring demand.

Still, Nayak remains optimistic, even while noting that countries like Thailand, Brazil, and China currently enjoy more advanced logistics systems.

From Farmer to Contract Grower

Despite the challenges, Jitesh Patel sees more opportunity than threat. He and many others in Gujarat have transitioned into contract farming – providing processors with a steady supply of fry-grade potatoes in exchange for stable income and support.

“Gujarat has become a food processing hub,” he says proudly. “Most of us now have secure contracts and good returns. The french fry changed our lives.”

As India eyes a bigger slice of the global frozen food market, farmers like Patel and scientists in lab coats will be the ones keeping the fry fires burning.