CPRI to Prepare 600 Quintals of Potato Breeder Seeds for State Supply
The Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI) in Shimla will prepare 600 quintals of high-quality potato breeder seeds. These seeds will be supplied to various states across the country. The states will use these breeder seeds on their potato seed farms to produce 3,000 quintals of seeds, which will then be distributed to farmers for planting. Additionally, CPRI will train state agricultural officers on protecting potato seeds from cyst nematode disease. In the first phase, training will be provided to Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir, and in the second phase to the northeastern states of Sikkim, Manipur, and Andhra Pradesh. CPRI has already requested the designation of officers for training from the states involved in the first phase.
In 2018, cyst nematode disease was detected in potatoes from government farms in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir, which had sourced their seeds from CPRI Shimla. Due to the disease outbreak, the central government halted seed production at CPRI six years ago. However, after extensive testing, scientists have now found a treatment. With the central government’s approval, seed preparation for varieties like Kufri Jyoti, Kufri Himalini, Kufri Girdhari, and Kufri Karan has resumed this year at Kufri and Fagu farms. The seed preparation process, which started in April and May, will take five months, and seeds will be available to states by November. Dr. Ashwani Sharma, Principal Scientist at CPRI, confirmed that the seeds will be ready by November.
Six years ago, due to the cyst nematode disease, seed production was banned. After harvesting, seeds should be soaked in a 2% sodium hypochlorite solution for 30 minutes, rinsed twice with water, dried in a shaded area, and then stored. This process does not adversely affect seed quality or germination capacity, and the solution can be reused 12 times. CPRI has begun the process of preparing breeder seeds and will conduct a one-day training session for officers from Himachal, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir in July.
