Desk Report,
How India is gaining a foothold in the French fry business
French fries or potato fries are quite popular among fast food at home and abroad. The main raw material of these french fries is potatoes. India is the second largest potato producer in the world. Over the past two decades, the country has become a major force in the export of french fries. Especially the state of Gujarat is now called the French fries capital of India.
How India is gaining a foothold in the French fry business
A BBC report has highlighted the rise of India in the export of french fries. It says that frozen french fries exports from India are increasing rapidly. In February this year, the country exported 20,000 tons of frozen french fries. In the year till February, the country’s exports of french fries stood at 1,81,000 tons, which is 45 percent more than the previous year.
Potato farmer Jitesh Patel is the son of a farmer family in Gujarat. His family traditionally cultivated cotton. However, the income from cotton cultivation was not much. Especially in 2001 and 2002, the situation worsened due to drought. Then Jitesh’s family realized that a change was needed. Jitesh Patel told the BBC, “We realized that we had to grow something that didn’t require a lot of water.”
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How India is gaining a strong foothold in the French fry business
Business Desk
Published: July 18, 2025, 23:29
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Dried French fries File Photo: Reuters
French fries or potato fries are quite popular among fast food in the country or abroad. The main raw material for these french fries is potatoes. India ranks second in the world in potato production. The country has become a major exporter of French fries over the past two decades. The state of Gujarat in particular is now known as the French fries capital of India.
A BBC report has highlighted India’s rise in French fries exports. It says that frozen French fries exports from India are growing rapidly. In February this year, the country exported 20,000 tonnes of frozen French fries. In the year to February, the country’s French fries exports stood at 181,000 tonnes, which is 45 percent more than the previous year.
Potato farmer Jitesh Patel is the son of a farming family in Gujarat. His family traditionally grew cotton. However, the income from cotton farming was not very good. Especially in 2001 and 2002, the situation worsened due to drought. Then Jitesh’s family realized that a change was needed. Jitesh Patel told the BBC, “We understood that we had to grow something that didn’t require a lot of water.”
At that time, Jitesh’s family started experimenting with potato cultivation. At first, they grew ordinary potatoes for their own consumption. Some of these potatoes were also sold in the local market. However, the profit was not as good as selling potatoes.
Meanwhile, a French fry manufacturing company started business in Gujarat in 2007. Then Jitesh Patel’s family started growing potatoes suitable for French fries. Since then, Jitesh Patel said, they have not had to look back.
In this way, many others like Jitesh Patel are turning to potato cultivation. This is because the export market for French fries is growing rapidly. Gujarat is now called the French fry capital of India. There are large French fry factories there. Such as Canadian giant McCain Foods and India’s largest French fry producer Hyphen Foods.
