UP centres to use aeroponics for potato seeds
2
Lucknow: The state govt has established centres of excellence in Kushinagar and Hapur to produce good quality potato seeds, or tubers, using an advanced technology called aeroponics.
Aeroponics is a soil-less farming method where the roots of potato plants remain suspended in the air after breeder seeds sown in seedling trays germinate. The timely spray of nutrients on the roots gives strength to the plants.
"Because soil is the biggest source of contamination, a soil-less medium is being used at these centres," said sources in the horticulture department.
At present, potato seeds are cloned at govt farms from the breeder seeds obtained from the Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI), headquartered in Shimla with regional centres in several states, including UP.
Potatoes are not only grown for the crop but also for the seeds. However, the clones need to be replaced after five years due to degeneration.
Besides, seed production in potatoes costs 50% of the total cost of production for the crop. "Better quality seeds are needed to reduce the cost of production," said sources. Seeds must be disease-resistant, genetically true to type and high yielding. A plant grown from a good quality seed may produce 50-60 tubers, which can be sown to grow potatoes.
UP is the largest producer of potatoes in the country, producing 240 lakh metric tonnes of potatoes in a year, which accounts for over one-third of the total annual production in the country. It has seven lakh hectares under potato cultivation and may need over 40 quintals of seeds for every hectare of area under potato cultivation. While the new centres are functional, the old technique of producing potato seeds will also continue, said sources.
Agra is the biggest potato-producing district. The potato belt extends from Agra to Kanpur. Around 105 lakh MT of marketable surplus from UP is sent to other states. Potatoes are cultivated in the rabi season, which is a winter cropping season, from Oct-Mar. The sowing is done in Oct-Nov and harvested in Feb-Mar.
There are 2,300 cold storages where the crop is stored and sold in the market.
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