By mid-2022, Pakistan will be self-sufficient in the production of high quality potato seeds. The country intends to produce high quality virus-free potato seeds using aeroponic technology from South Korea. The move will reduce the cost of importing potato seeds, which will cost the agricultural sector about $ 400 million a year. This is reported by the Internet portal www.dawn.com.
Pakistan currently imports about 15 tons of potato seeds from various countries, but the quality of the seeds is often in doubt.
According to Dr. Muhammad Azim Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), the hope for import substitution in a short time is given by aeroponic potato seed production technology.
Aeroponics is a soilless method of obtaining high quality seeds in a greenhouse with higher yields and profits than traditional methods. The nutrient solution is sprayed onto the plants through fertilizer and water nozzles. This technology is well suited for enlarging tubers and facilitates the supply of oxygen to the root zone. The ROI on the initial technology investment is fast.
The aeroponic method increases the efficiency of potato production and reduces the number of potato seed propagation cycles, thereby reducing threats to plant health and quality.
The transfer of aeroponic technology was made possible by the establishment of the Korea Program for International Cooperation in Agricultural Technology (KOPIA) at the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) in Islamabad in 2020.
In accordance with the agreement, the KOPIA-Pakistan Center was established and an aeroponic greenhouse was built. The South Korean Rural Development Administration (RDA) provided funds for this project.
Pakistan and South Korea will work together to help innovate agricultural technology and seed-growing practices that will popularize smart farming and ultimately increase the incomes of smallholder farmers.
Pakistani potatoes are grown commercially and contribute significantly to GDP. It is grown both in the highlands and in the plains as a summer and winter crop, reflecting the importance of the crop for the livelihoods of a diverse group of farmers.
The average potato yield in Pakistan is lower than in other potato-growing countries.
Certified seed production is limited and faces technical, economic and management challenges. According to PARC member Dr. Shahid Hamid, most farmers rely on their own seeds, which they do not have the necessary skills and technical knowledge to produce.