Jitesh Patel is a passionate young farmer from the Indian state of Gujarat. He’s currently spearheading efforts to make India into a global powerhouse of potato production and frozen fry exports. His family’s transition to cultivating potatoes has not only revitalized their farming business but contributed significantly to India’s rising status as a superpower in the french fry industry.
Patel’s story started with an agricultural educational background, something he deeply invested in while attending university. Since then on, he has used the scientific method to find better ways to farm. The early 2000s would be a sharp pivot. Severe droughts during 2001 and 2002 completely destroyed the yields of more traditional crops. Patel’s family realized that there was an immediate need for reform. By 2003, they had switched to an efficient drip irrigation system, moving away from wasteful flood irrigation practices.
“We realised that we had to start growing something that does not require lot of water,” Patel stated, highlighting the necessity of adapting to changing climatic conditions. This change made it economically feasible for them to begin developing new varieties of potatoes tailored to the fresh food market, beginning in 2007.
Yet today, Gujarat has become India’s capital of French fry production. Factories there now make huge volumes of chips for local use and export. HyFun Foods One of the largest private sector players in the industry, HyFun Foods operates seven processing plants in Gujarat. They intend to double that to 10 by 2026. Patel is at the heart of this gruesome operation. In his role, he helps to keep up with the increasing worldwide demand for frozen fries.
In February of this year, Indian frozen fry exports exceeded 20,000 tonnes for the first time ever. So far this year, total exports are up to 181,773 tonnes, an astonishing 45% increase over last year at this time. India’s expanding frozen foods market further highlights the country’s ability to be a strong player of frozen foods in the global market.
“India has emerged as a significant player and exporter due to its abundant agricultural produce, cost-effective manufacturing, and growing focus on quality standards,” stated Haresh Karamchandani, CEO of HyFun Foods. He highlighted the effects of urbanization and increased disposable income. These factors, coupled with the evolving lifestyles, led to a significant increase in frozen food purchases by homes and foodservice outlets.
Despite these successes, challenges remain. According to Mr. Nayak, an industry expert, we are already at a major deficit. Over the road there simply aren’t enough specialized refrigerated trucks and containers to move everything that needs temperature-controlled transportation. “This makes transportation extremely difficult and increases the risk of spoilage,” he noted. On top of that, ongoing and worsening power outages nationwide make it harder for any region’s frozen food supply chain to run smoothly and dependably.
Patel understands the challenges they face, but is hopeful for the future of his fellow farmers and potato farming in India. “Gujarat has become a food processing hub. Most of us independent farmers have turned into contract farmers. This transition gives us robustness and guarantees that we make satisfactory money with our yield,” he stated. His dedication to innovation shone through particularly as he spoke about the need for constant experimentation with new seed varieties to increase productivity.
India is up against fierce competition from countries such as China, Thailand, and Brazil in export markets. These countries have highly developed logistics, infrastructure, and industrial production capabilities. This produces difficulties for Indian companies that wish to increase their market share. Yet Patel’s sophisticated attitude combined with a keen propensity for trial and error have given him the freedom to consistently explore new methods or even entirely new crops.
“Only about 10–15% of India’s cold storage facilities are suitable for storing frozen foods,” noted Vijay Kumar Nayak. This shortcoming makes clear the need to invest in our infrastructure to help support this growing sector of the frozen food industry.
As Patel’s farm continues to thrive, his story reflects a broader narrative of India’s agricultural transformation. He made it work with potatoes, and his family fortunes flourished. This decision further aligned with national-level efforts to bolster India’s role in the global food supply chain.