India: Pulwama farmer adopts ‘true potato seed’ technology for cultivation

TPS production is a technique of growing potatoes from seeds instead of tubers.

Irshad Ahmad Dar, a progressive farmer from Patalbagh village of Pulwama, has grown a potato crop on trial basis using TPS technology under guidance from scientists from Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology Kashmir ( SKUAST-K).

“The crop is in flowering stage and so far has shown promising growth,” Irshad said, adding that he is the first farmer from Kashmir to have adopted TPS for potato cultivation.

Dr Baseerat Afroza, HOD ( Head of Department) Division of Vegetable Sciences, SKUAST-K told Rising Kashmir that TPS production technology is feasible in high altitude areas with specific climatic conditions.

She said that in high altitude areas like Phalgam, Gulmarg and Sonmarg TPS crop produces fruits after flowering which bear seeds.

“The seeds are sown to raise a nursery of potato seedlings which are then planted in the land,” she said, adding that the seeds are similar to seeds of tomato plant but comparatively smaller in size.

“100 grams of seeds will suffice for 1 hectare of land,” she said, adding that potatoes grown through TPS production are usually smaller in size named as mini tubers.

“The mini tubers can be used as planting material which will yield ware potatoes during next season,” she said.

She said that SKUAST-K has been practicing TPS production for so many years to have a high quality hybrid variety of potato.

“Once a hybrid variety is obtained it is easy to maintain,” she said, adding that they have identified many hybrid varieties and recommended them to the All India Coordinated Project on Potato.

She added that they have also recommended some hybrid varieties for farmers of their zone.

“These varieties are not very common among farmers so far,” she said.

She said that the benefit of working with TPS is that it allows breeding through crossing of flowers.

Scientists from SKUAST-K said that apart from hybrid varieties, TPS will also prove boon to farmers for saving a huge quantity of Tubers ( Potatoes) for human consumption.

“ The planting material will be grown at high altitude through seeds which can be planted in the land for potato cultivation,” they said, adding that it will save a huge quantity of tubers which are used as planting material.