1. 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

2. 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,

3. 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,

4. 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

5. 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).

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. Fig. 2: Potato production, Area & research stations

10. 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

11. 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)

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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)

18. 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

19. 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,

20. 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

21. 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,

22. 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

23. 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

24. Thank-you All !!!