Bhim Bahadur Khatri, PhD Coordinator NPRP/NARC Efficient production of virus free in-vitro plantlets & minitubers under glasshouse/screenhouse conditions through different cultivation systems & distribution to the stakeholders of Nepal Bhim Bahadur Khatri, PhD Coordinator NPRP/NARC Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal

Introduction Nepal is a small hilly country sand-witched between China in North & India in South, East and West, 3 distinct physiographic regions (Mountain, Mid-hills and plains), high climatic variability, Monsoon dependent, Smallholders dominate the farming system (60%) Agriculture & forestry contributes about 34% of GDP,

Introduction contd….... Rice, maize, wheat and potatoes are the major crops grown, Limited access to inputs, new technologies & market opportunities, Declining agricultural production depress rural economies & increased widespread hunger & migration,

Introduction contd….. Potatoes probably first imported in the early 1790s (Kirkpatrik, 1811), Gained importance from the mid 19th century, Ist official attempt to improve initiated in 1962, NPDP established in 1972 (now NPRP & NPDP), NPRP established on 1991 with the establishment of NARC

Introduction contd..…… At present, potato occupies 5th position in area, 4th in total production & Ist in the productivity (ABSPD, 2015), Planted in different seasons & harvested accordingly, Per capita availability remains 71kg/year, Contribution in NAGDP is estimated at 6.4%, High use of low-quality seed & ill crop management practices major limiting factors (Hidalgo et al, 2001).

Table 1: Area, production & productivity of major food crops in Nepal, 2014/15 (ha) Rank Prodn. (tons) Producti vity (t/ha) Potato 197,037 VI 2,586,287 III 13.1 II Paddy 1,425,346 I 4,788,612 3.4 Maize 882,395 2,145,291 IV 2.4 Wheat 762,373 1,975,625 V 2.6 Millet 268,050 308,488 1.2 Source: ABPSD, 2015

Figure 1: Production & productivity of potato crop in the year 2004/05 to 2014/15 in Nepal

Table 3: Season of potato crop S.N. Season Planting time Harvesting time 1 Winter season Sept-October January-Feb 2 Early Spring January-February April-may 3 Late spring March-April June-August 4 Autumn season July-August September-october

Fig. 2: Potato production, Area & research stations

Introduction contd…….. Area under potato is around 18% is in HHs/mountains, 42% in the mid-hills & 40% in Terai (ABPSD, 2014), Systematic research work started from 1991 AD, NPRP so far has released 10 varieties & 2 TPS progenies registered, Several improved practices developed, 200,000 PBS distributed/year

NPRP as a national commodity program General Mandate: Generate suitable & stable technologies, Specific Mandate: Develop HYV with resistance to major diseases & pests, Develop optimum package of practices, Identify & investigate control measures against pests & diseases, Disease free seed (PBS & BS)

NPRP at present Variety development (potatoes & sweet potatoes) Technology development Source seed production (PBS & BS)- (traditionally, PBS produced under aphid proof glasshouse/screen houses).

Major research achievements 1. Varietal improvement Collection, conservation & evaluation of potato germplasm Release & recommend for commercial production 2. Technology Appropriate crop husbandry Post harvest technology Soil fertility studies Insect pest & diseases Post harvest handling

Quality & disease free seed production Research on sustainable & low cost PBS production, About 200,000 PBS & 3 tones of BS production annually, & distribution to the farmers through DoA

PBS PRODUCTION I. Tissue culture laboratory Virus Elimination Virus Testing Rapid Propagation Germplasm conservation & Maintenance II. Glasshouse complex Pre-basic Seed Production PBS Storage Distribution

Seed flow status Sources Mt Remarks Govt. Farms: Basic I – IV 50 FDD; VDD – 2069 SPGs 60000 NPDP estimates TPS derivatives- 8000 NPDP, 2011 Imported seed from India 141 MoAD, 2014 Commercial farmer’s own 34058 (30% of terai total) Sub-total 102249 35% of the total Ware imports used as seed in terai / inner terai 79430 (70% of terai total/NPDP) Farmers’ own seed from ware 114172 Farmer to farmer Total 295,851  

PBS production Govt. sector: Lab -1, glass house/screen house: 3 Private sector: Lab-3 (Running: Godawari, Nala, Baneshwar) Lab-2 (under construction : Bardiya, Dang) net house - 6 (Running)

Cultivars available for PBS production at NPRP S.N. Autumn/winter season Spring/Summer season 1 Cardinal 2 Desiree 3 Janak Dev 4 Kufri Sindhuri Khumal Seto-1 5 Khumal Rato-2 Kufri Jyoti 6 Khumal Laxmi 7 Jumli Local 8 IPY 8 Khumal Ujjol 9 Khumal Upahar 11

Issues & challenges Old infrastructures for PBS production Insufficient technical manpower, Irregular power supply (some times more than 12 hrs a day), High demand & low production, Limited cold storage facilities in NPRP, Use of poor quality potato tubers as seed by majority of the farmers, Lack of monitoring and supervision , Less effective seed certification scheme,

Future Needs Utilization of biotechnological methods for crop improvement e.g. molecular characterization, DNA finger printing, protoplast culture. Establishment of new well established system (hydroponic /aeroponics system), Development of efficient soil treatment method in GH, Development of efficient & standard seed multiplication and distribution system

Proposed main Activities Strengthening existing seed production facilities, Establishment of hydroponic cultivation system, Establishment of bioreactor system in TC laboratory, Mass production of virus-free plantlets & minitubers & distribution, Train the technical manpower in tissue culture technologies & bioreactor system, Disseminate the knowledge to the seed producers,

Future Plan with the Project Strengthen its existing lab & GH facilities, Establish a new lab system to increase the # & improve the quality of planting materials, Strengthen NPRP resources (human & lab facilities), Minimize the cost of production through modified/improved minituber production system, Effective dissemination of proven technologies to the stakeholders

Future Research Needs Utilization of biotechnology Varieties for high hills Varieties to cope with climate change High quality processing varieties Varieties of high nutrient content PBS production through hydro and aeroponics Development of late blights forecasting system Red ant management Mechnization

Thank-you All !!!