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DECENTRALIZED ON-FARM SEED POTATO PRODUCTION FROM PRE-BASIC MINITUBERS: A CASE STUDY FROM NEPAL

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 March 2001

S. SCHULZ
Affiliation:
Nepal Agricultural Research Council – Potato Research Programme, Khumaltar, PO Box 404, Kathmandu, Nepal
G. J. WELLS
Affiliation:
Nepal Agricultural Research Council – Potato Research Programme, Khumaltar, PO Box 404, Kathmandu, Nepal
B. K. BANIYA
Affiliation:
Nepal Agricultural Research Council – Potato Research Programme, Khumaltar, PO Box 404, Kathmandu, Nepal
T. P. BARAKOTI
Affiliation:
Nepal Agricultural Research Council – Potato Research Programme, Khumaltar, PO Box 404, Kathmandu, Nepal
G. KHAREL
Affiliation:
Nepal Agricultural Research Council – Potato Research Programme, Khumaltar, PO Box 404, Kathmandu, Nepal
B. SAHA
Affiliation:
Nepal Agricultural Research Council – Potato Research Programme, Khumaltar, PO Box 404, Kathmandu, Nepal
B. V. THAPA
Affiliation:
Nepal Agricultural Research Council – Potato Research Programme, Khumaltar, PO Box 404, Kathmandu, Nepal
D. N. OJHA
Affiliation:
Nepal Agricultural Research Council – Potato Research Programme, Khumaltar, PO Box 404, Kathmandu, Nepal

Abstract

The on-farm performance of more than 150 000 pre-basic potato (Solanum tuberosum) minitubers of 1–10 g was monitored over two years in contrasting environments in Nepal. Average minituber productivity (grams of basic seed produced per minituber planted) was 171 g in the southern plains and 116 g in the hills. Although the performance of minitubers varied between environments, minituber sizes and potato varieties, the overall results clearly indicated that minitubers can be successfully multiplied by small-scale farmers. This technology therefore allows for the highly decentralized production of basic seed which, in turn, will reduce farmers' dependence on an unreliable and costly supply of bulky conventional seed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1998 Cambridge University Press

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