Kufri Pukhraj
Dominant Indian variety. Short-duration (75-90 days), planted across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
At a glance
Best uses
About this variety
Dominant Indian variety. Short-duration (75-90 days), planted across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Kufri Pukhraj is classified as a south asia variety released in 1998, primarily used for all-purpose, fresh market. For agronomic specs, breeder details, and trial data not yet captured here, refer to the source registries linked at the bottom of this page.
Kufri Pukhraj — India's leading early-maturity variety
Kufri Pukhraj was developed by ICAR-CPRI Modipuram with commercial release in 1998 (ICAR-CPRI variety register; Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences). The variety was specifically bred for India's increasingly compressed rabi-season cool window, targeting earlier maturity than Kufri Jyoti to enable harvest before late-season heat stress.
Kufri Pukhraj has become the dominant early-maturity variety across the Indo-Gangetic plain — particularly in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Bihar where it competes with and increasingly displaces older varieties. Adoption has accelerated as climate-change pressure has shortened the effective cool-season window in north Indian potato belts.
Kufri Pukhraj's market positioning
Kufri Pukhraj's 70–90 day maturity is among the shortest of any commercially significant variety globally, enabling Indian smallholders to capture early-market prices before peak February–March harvest flood. Specific gravity of 1.068–1.078 supports table-market use and acceptable processing-grade quality for chip stock.
The variety has been adopted across Uttar Pradesh's Bundelkhand region for double-cropping (early Pukhraj harvest in late January, then a second short-cycle crop), in Bihar's spring-potato system, and in West Bengal's North Bengal Tarai belt. Its short dormancy enables back-to-back planting that smallholders use to spread cash-flow risk across the season.
Agronomic profile of Kufri Pukhraj
Kufri Pukhraj matures in 70–90 days from planting under typical Indian rabi conditions. Yields of 35–40 t/ha are achievable under intensive irrigated management; smallholder yields of 25–30 t/ha are typical. The variety has good resistance to late blight and acceptable PVY tolerance — agronomic improvements that contributed to its rapid adoption.
For Indian state-level variety adoption context see our deep dives at Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, and the Kufri varieties guide.
Frequently asked questions about Kufri Pukhraj
What is Kufri Pukhraj potato?+
Kufri Pukhraj is a south asia potato variety released in 1998 originating from India / ICAR-CPRI. Dominant Indian variety. Short-duration (75-90 days), planted across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
What is Kufri Pukhraj potato best used for?+
Kufri Pukhraj is best suited to all-purpose, fresh market. Dominant Indian variety. Short-duration (75-90 days), planted across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
When was Kufri Pukhraj released?+
Kufri Pukhraj was released in 1998. The variety is classified as south asia (Iconic).
Where is Kufri Pukhraj grown?+
Kufri Pukhraj is most commonly grown in South Asia, with original release from India / ICAR-CPRI. Cross-reference our country profiles for production data.
Variety profiles aggregate data from CIP Lima genebank, ICAR-CPRI variety catalogue, EU Common Catalogue, USDA PVPO, AHDB Potato Variety Database, NIAB, NAK Netherlands, the Potato Pedigree Database, national breeding programmes (CAAS, EARO, BARI, INTA, EMBRAPA, INIFAP, IHAR-PIB, VNIIKKH), and peer-reviewed literature in Potato Research and the American Journal of Potato Research.
Updated May 2026 · Reviewed by Potatopedia editorial team · Linked to Wikidata for cross-reference.