1. TECHNOLOGY DISSEMINATION OF VIRUS-FREE SEED POTATO PRODUCTION USING HYDROPONIC PRODUCTION SYSTEM
Presentation by: Mr. Yeshi Dorji
National Seed Centre,
Department of Agriculture
Ministry of Agriculture & Forests: Bhutan

2. Presentation Outline Background Objectives
Current production and distribution system
Location of experimental site
Occurrence and control of pest & diseases
Target cultivar for hydroponic
Virus free potato tissue culture
Discussion and Analysis
Suggestion for the project
Project impact and future plan

3. Background
69% of the Bhutanese populations are engaged in Agriculture. Agriculture will remain one of the most important source of employment and rural livelihood of the Bhutanese people for several decades.
Forest cover : 72.5%
Pasture : %
Agriculture: %
Horticulture: %
Settlement: %
Others: %
National Portal of Bhutan, 1995

4. Ministry of Agriculture and Forest
Department of Forest and Park Services
Depart of Livestock
Department of Agriculture
National Plant Protection Centre, National Post Harvest Centre, Agriculture Machinery Centre, Horticulture Division, Research Development Centre, Policy and Planning Division, Agriculture Finances Division
National Seed Centre and Bhutan Potato Development Program
Certified Seed Growers’ group

5. National Seed Centre
The Program is responsible to ensure national seed security through production of high quality seeds, planting materials & other agricultural inputs in adequate quantities and at affordable price to improve the livelihood of the farmers. NSC is under Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture & Forests.

6. Objectives
To supply certified seeds & plants of agricultural and horticultural crops in adequate quantity on time.
To specialize in maintaining & multiplying basic and foundation seeds and planting materials of recommended and released varieties.
To co-ordinate Registered Seed Growers, private Nursery growers & private sector entrepreneurs to ensure the availability of certified seeds and plants to Bhutanese farmers at all times.

7. Overview of Current production
Total area – 12,785 acres *
Total production – 53,612 MT*
Average yield – 4,194 kg per acre*
NSC is the major supplier of seed potatoes throughout the country supplying about MT of seed potatoes to the farmer’s annually. Moreover, the free transportation cost
Agriculture statistics, 2014 (DoA)

8. Potato production system

9. Major Potato Growing Districts

10. Seed Production & Distribution
Potato seed production system in Bhutan
Informal
Formal
(99%)
(1%)
Tissue culture (micro-tubers)
Aeroponics
(Mini-tubers)
Farmers to farmers seed exchange

11. Formal Seed System
This system is requried to provide high quality material to the producers of inforaml seed and to regain/maitain credibility for seed export.
National Seed Centre has the mandate and facilities to produce the first stages in the formal seed program.
Seed quality at all the levels is monitored through Bhutan Agriculture & Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA), following the seed standards and the seed certification rules and regulations.

12. Stages of seed production and seed flow
Panting material
Where produced
Product
In-Vitro plantlet
Micro tuber & Mini tuber
Basic Seed
Foundation 1
Foundation 2
Certified seed
NSC Laboratory & Aeroponic
NSC- Seed Farm
(3100m)
(3100m
Seed Farm Registered-grower(3100m)
Certified Growers
Informal seed
growers
Micro tuber & Mini tuber
Basic seed
Foundation 1
Foundation 2
certified seed
Informal seed

13. Tissue Culture Laboratory
Culture room
Multiplication room

14. Traditional system
The potato producers at higher elevation( above 2700m) customarily maintain their own seed stock. They do not generally apply any specific treatment for seed production

15. Location of the experimental site
The experiment will be carried out under net-house or greenhouse cultivation with controlled conditions at National Seed Centre, Paro. The location lies between latitude of 27°22’59’’ N and longitude, 89°25’12’’ E of Greenwich. It is located at an altitude of 2,406 meter above sea level (m.a.s.l) with cool winter and humid conditions in summer.
Department of Hydro met services [DoHMS], 2015

16. Major Diseases
Late blight (phytophthora infestans (mont.)

17. Viruses (PVA, PVS, PVX, PVY&PLRV)

18. MANAGEMENT & CONTROL OF PESTS AND DISEASES
Selection of healthy seed is foundation of successful disease management
Use FM radio stations & media to disseminate information on disease forecast and management)
Scheduled chemical spray
Source varieties like Desiree, Kufri jyoti & Yusikaap that are moderately resistance
Educate on post harvest managements

19. Potato Varieties in Bhutan
Desiree (Red Dutch variety 80048)
Kufri Jyoti (White Indian Variety )
Yusikaap (White Argentine 72008)
Khangmakaap (White CIP, Peru )
Nasephey kewa Kaap (White Peru )
Limited information is available on varieties used prior to 1970’s. Presently 4 varieties are used in Bhutan. The Desiree is by far the most important.
All are wart resistant.

20. Target Cultivar Variety Desiree Khangma Kaap Origin The Netherlands
Peru (CIP)
CIP number
800048
Introduced
1970
1989
Released
1988
2002
Days to maturity
<100
Shape
Long oval
Oblong
Skin
Smooth red to pink
Smooth White cream
Late blight
Susceptible
Moderate resistant
Wart
Resistant
Other characteristic
Good eating and storage quality. Preferred for French fries
Suitable for rice based cropping system, Early maturing
Proportion of Production (%) 90 4

21. Virus free potato tissue culture
Selection of tubers from healthy plant from the field
Disinfection of the selected tubers in Lab
Initiate Meristem culture
Sub-culture for mass multiplication
Acclimatization

22. Discussion and Analysis
Henceforth, with the support of this project, by introducing hydroponic technique the production of clean planting materials can be improved and strengthened.
Achieving of mini-tubers with an excellent sanitary quality.
Quality production.

23. Suggestion for the Project
In addition to tissue culture and Aeroponic facility, the goal of this project is to stabilize and improve seed potato industry in the country through propagating virus-free planting materials of the hydroponics technique.
Supply of hydroponic cultivation facilities to be used for proliferation of seed potatoes.
Mass production for proliferation of certified healthy seed potatoes by net house cultivation.
Monitoring of virus infection in seed potatoes produced in the country and technical support for molecular diagnostics of potato virus.

24. Project Impact and future plan
Supply of quality (healthy, disease-free) mini tubers produced through hydroponic
Proper seed program will be organized by replacement of virus-free seed potatoes to farmers which will ultimately improve their livelihood
Well-established seed potato production system combining hydroponics and net-house production and selecting the healthy seed potatoes.
Trained experts in operating facilities for seed potato production and virus diagnostics.
Boosting the quantity and quality of farmers’ potatoes.

25. Increase farm income in Asian countries by producing quality potato seeds.
To develop and study new cultivation systems.
To produce disease free seed potatoes through rapid seed multiplication technologies
Disease free seed potatoes produced for further production of foundation and certified seeds
Ultimately, development of tissue culture Lab facilities and man power
Improvement and maintenance of existing Aeroponic facilities

26. THANK YOU