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Challenges of Seed Potato (solanum Tuberosum L.) Production and Supply System in Bangladesh

Md. Rayhan Shaheb
On-Farm Research Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research institute, Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh.

M. Mahbuba Begum
Tuber Crops Research Centre, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur – 1701, Bangladesh.

Kabir Uddin Ahmed
Tuber Crops Research Centre, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur – 1701, Bangladesh.

Mahmudul Islam Nazrul
On-Farm Research Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research institute, ylhet-3100, Bangladesh.

Siert G. Wiersema
CDI, Wageningen UR, The Netherlands

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important vegetable that plays a vital role in global food and nutritional security and alleviation of poverty, especially in Bangladesh. Although, the soil and climatic conditions of Bangladesh are favourable for potato cultivation, every year production is hampered due to use of low quality seeds. Seed potato industry is developing in Bangladesh. However, only 5-10% quality seeds are being produced and used by the potato farmers. Quality seeds alone can contribute to increased yield by 15-20%. Both public and private sectors together supply only 5% quality seed potato and the rest 95% is almost of low quality produced by the farmers themselves. In prioritizing different issues of agriculture, challenges of production and supply of quality seed to the farmers should be considered as a top priority issue. For increasing quality seeds, the whole seed system needs to be reviewed. The present work was an attempt to review the seed potato production systems, supply system and also to identify the possible challenges and policy implications in regards of the problems on seed potato in Bangladesh.

Keywords: Seed potato production, Seed supply systems, Quality seeds, Seed industry

Location: Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation

Start Date: 00-00-2006

End Date: 00-00-2011

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Potato

Objectives:

(i) To summarize the present status of seed potato production and supply systems.

(ii)To determine the farmers’ problems towards seed potato production.

(iii)To identify strategies of increasing seed potato production and supply systems in Bangladesh.

Methodology:

National production trends for the last five decades are summarized. Potato yield, area of harvest and production were slightly higher in seventy decade compared to sixty decade. These parameters remained almost stable with some fluctuations up to ninety decade and after that, dramatically increased four folds more in production, two folds more in area harvest and 1.5 times more in yields amounting 15 tha^-1 in 2007 from 10 tha^-1 in 1990. Per capita production of potato was also increased over the previous decades. However, up to the early 2000, developed countries were the major producers and consumers of potato but during the last decade developing countries’ production surpassed that of the developed countries. At present, Bangladesh is producing around 8 million tons of potatoes per year. In 2010-11, total requirement of seed potato was 0.6 million tons, of which only 20000 tons (3%) quality seeds were produced by Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation. The potato growing area and production during 2006-07 to 2010-11. Both area and production of potato were increasing except in 2008-09. The Breeder Seed Production Centre (BSPC) of the TCRC produces and supplies breeder seed to BADC for further multiplication to produce foundation and certified seed. For the 2011-12 crop season, the BSPC produced 285.05 metric tons breeder seed in net houses for BADC. Besides this, the breeder’s seed and the foundation seed are also supplied to different local NGOs and farmers. The BADC produces foundation seeds from pre-foundation at the seed farms during low aphid periods. The foundation seed is given to contract growers for further multiplication of certified seed. The BADC sells certified seed to farmers through authorized dealers. The informal approach of seed potato production includes multiplication, maintenance and exchange of seed potatoes by the farmers. The performance of self produced and stored potato seeds by farmers are poor compared to the seeds from BADC. Some important steps of seed plot techniques are: Use of disease free HYV seed potato (Foundation seed). Early planting (within 15 November).Use of whole tuber with 60 X 25 cm spacing. Soil treatment with stable bleaching powder. Seed treatment with boric acid (3%). Use of isolation distance (at least 30m from ware potato or other solanceous crops). Roughing of infected plants, dissimilar plants etc. Use of insecticides, fungicides for aphid vector and fungal diseases. Potato haulm killing at 80 days after planting (DAP) or 15 Days before harvest. Sorting and storing of seed tubers in the cold storage for next year use etc.

Source of Information: The Agriculturists 2015; 13(1) 173-188, ISSN 1729-5211

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/agric.v13i1.26560

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Potato is a developing industry in Bangladesh. There is a wide scope of increasing area and production of potato in the country with a little added efforts in sustainable production techniques and improvement of seed quality. Only 5-10% quality seeds are being used by the potato farmers in Bangladesh. Several steps are important for seed potato production and supply systems at different stages viz. varietal development, multiplication, processing, preservation and quality control. These are various processes which ultimately contribute to the good seed for production of good crop. In prioritizing different issues of agriculture, supply of quality seed to the farmers should be considered as a top priority issue. For increasing quality seed supply to the farmers, the whole seed system needs to be reviewed. The capacity of both public and private sectors should be strengthened for the improvement of seed system. It has been scientifically proved and recognized that seeds are the focal point that can boost up crop yield and quality seeds alone can contribute to the increase of yield by 15-20%. Thus, it can greatly help in achieving sustainable food security for the emerging population within the limited land, water and other agricultural resources. The information of this paper may help the policy makers, researchers, BADC, extension personnel, private seed companies, and entrepreneurs etc. to take necessary steps towards the sustainable seed potato production and supply system in Bangladesh.

Knowledge Management: Journal