The ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI) has commercialised a new purple taro variety called 'ICAR-CTCRI Jamuni.' This taro is known for its purple-streaked flesh and high anthocyanin content, measured at 32.79 mg per gram of flour. It is a long-corm taro that yields between 1.5 and 2.0 kg per plant within seven to eight months. On Wednesday, CTCRI’s director G. Byju signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sumeet Kaur, CEO of Bengaluru-based startup Spudnik Farms. The technology was licensed for ₹5.9 lakh. R. Saravanan Raju, principal scientist and lead developer of the variety, said, "The distinctive purple flesh of the corm is the principal attraction, coupled with its stable yield performance." The variety was co-developed by A. Asha Devi, K.M. Senthil Kumar, P.S. Sivakumar, and C. Pradeepika, all scientists at CTCRI. Dr. Byju noted that licensing elite tuber crop lines marks a new strategic direction for the institute. He added, "The commercialisation of Jamuni marks a milestone, being the first tuber variety from CTCRI to be commercialised through licensing."