COUNTRY REPORT
Technology Dissemination of Virus-free Seed Potato production
using Hydroponic Production systems
Country: Bhutan
Principal Investigator: Mr. Wangda Dukpa
Organization: National Seed Centre, Department of Agriculture,
Ministry of Agriculture and Forests
Project duration: 2016-2019
CONTENTS
Introduction
3
Institutions linked to Potato Production and Marketing
4
Current production and dissemination system
5-7
Location of experimental site
7-8
Occurrence & control of pest and diseases
Management plan
8
Pathogen test
9
Target cultivar for hydroponic
9-10
Virus free potato tissue culture
10
Seed potato quality control & management
11-13
Discussion and Analysis
13-14
Suggestion for the Project
14
Project impact and future plan
15
References
16
INTRODUCTION
Agriculture is one of the most important source of employment
and rural livelihood of the Bhutanese people. About 69% of the
Bhutanese populations are engaged in Agriculture. The total land
covers were Forest cover: 72.5%, Pasture: 3.9%, Agriculture: 7.7%,
Horticulture: 0.1%, Settlement: 0.1%, and others: 15.9%.
Most important crop based on cultivation area, number of
producer and food security are Rice & Maize. Both are mostly
produced for home consumption. The most important cash crops that
emerged over the last 4 decades are Potato, mandarin, cardamom,
& apple. Out of all, potato will remain the most single
important cash crop available esp. for those farmers from 2500-3500
m.a.s.l. Potato in Bhutan is one of the main cash crops for the
farmers. In 2014, potato ranked first in terms of the volume of
agriculture trade and was in the top 10 export major commodities,
worth Nu. 688.79 million (Bhutan Trade Statistics, 2014).
Potato has been and continues to be a very important crop, not
only for Bhutan, but also for the entire world. It is the most
important vegetative propagated crop in the world today. Bhutan has
favorable environment for potato production. According to Markham
(1876) (as cited in Roder et al, 2008) George Bogle, a
representative of the East India company, introduced potato to
Bhutan in1776 during the time of negotiating trade route to Lhasa
for the East India. From 1970 onwards the production has increased
very rapidly. Potato is the most important cash crop for households
above 2000 m and in these regions it has been the main driving
force for the socio- economic changes form subsistence agriculture
to market oriented agriculture. Now Potato is expected to play a
major role towards achieving future goals in rural income
generation, poverty alleviation, generating employment and slowing
down rural to urban migration. Potato production is almost
exclusively based on rain fed agriculture.
INSTITUTIONS LINKED TO POTATO PRODUCTION AND MARKETING
Addresses
Location
Phone
Fax
Email/ web links
Bhutan Potato Development Program (BPDP)
Yusipang
2-351693
351694
[email protected]
Department of Agriculture (DOA)
Thimphu
2-322228
323562
www.moa.gov.bt/
National Seed Centre (NSC)
Paro
8-271465
271206
[email protected]
Agriculture Marketing Section (AMS)
Thimphu
2-324898
324898
www.moa.gov.bt/
Food Cooperation of Bhutan (FCB)
Phuntsholing
5-252241
252289
[email protected]
National Post Harvest Centre (NPHC)
Paro
8-272406
271494
[email protected]
National Plant Protection Centre (NPPC)
Semtokha
2-351016
351656
[email protected]
Bhutan Agriculture & Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA)
Thimphu
2-327031 / 325790
327032
[email protected]
CURRENT POTATO PRODUCTION AND DISSEMINATION SYSTEM
Potato is well adapted to the Bhutanese mountain environment and
can be grown from the foothills (300masl) up to elevations of
4500masl (Figures 1& 2). The most important production areas
are in the belt from 1800-3300 masl were it is produced almost
exlusively under rainfed conditions.
Figure 1: Agro ecological zone for Potato Production System
Figure 2: Major potato growing districts in Bhutan
There are about 5000 varieties of potatoes in the world of which
4000 edible varieties were found in the Andes of South America
(CIP, 2015). However, in Bhutan there is only five varieties
available viz. Desiree, Kufri Jyoti, Khangma kaap, Yusikaap and
Nasephey kewa kaap. Nasephey kewa kaap is a new CIP variety
released in 2014 by National Potato program, Department of
Agriculture. Desiree, a Dutch variety is the leading variety grown
(90% of the total acreage under potato cultivation) in the country
(Joshi and Gurung,2009).
Formal system
A formal seed system is required to provide high quality
material to the producers of informal seed and to regain and
maintain credibility for seed export. Currently National Seed
Centre (NSC) has the mandate and facilities to produce the first
stages in the formal seed program. Seed quality at all levels is
closely monitored through Bhutan Agricultural Food Regulatory
Authority (BAFRA), following the seed standards and the rules &
regulations for seed certification
Informal system/ Traditional system
Potato producers at higher elevations (>2500 m) customarily
maintain their own seed stock. They generally do not apply any
specific treatment for seed production. Most farmers would separate
healthy and medium size tubers and use them as seed for the coming
season. This approach works well at higher elevations (above 2800
m), where potato producers have been using their own seed for up to
30 years. The seed plot technique and method of positive selection
is being recommended, but are not widely being followed.
Farmers at lower elevations sometimes procure seed from higher
elevations. This system is largely based on individual contacts
between seed producers and clients. Often these contacts are based
on family relations. Some take place within the same
block/district, while others involve movement across district.
Data on annual production since 1965 shows a dramatic increase
in the early seventies with an annual increase of over 10% followed
by slump in production in the 80s resulted from declining profits
due to the combined effects of stagnant yield, raising labour
costs, problems with wild boars and fluctuation in market prices.
The production picked up again towards the end of 90s and still
growing. According to Agriculture statistics 2014 annual potato
production was 53,612 MT harvested from 12785 acres with national
average yield of 4,194 kg per acre.
National Seed Centre under the Department of Agriculture,
Ministry of Agriculture & Forests is the major supplier of seed
potatoes throughout the country supplying over more than 350-400 MT
of seed potatoes to the farmers annually. Moreover, the
transportation cost is supported by the Government to reach the
seed potatoes to the farmers field.
Location of the experimental site
The experiment will be carried out under net-house or greenhouse
cultivation with controlled conditions at National Seed Centre,
Paro. The location lies between latitude of 272259 N and longitude,
892512 E of Greenwich. It is located at an altitude of 2,406 meter
above sea level (m.a.s.l) with cool winter and humid conditions in
summer. The mean temperature was recorded -3.3C in December and
mean maximum temperature recorded at 23.4C in July (Department of
Hydro met services [DoHMS], 2015).
OCCURRENCE AND CONTROL OF PEST AND DISEASE
Diseases
Potato is susceptible to various fungal, bacterial, and viral
diseases and a range of insects and other pest. In Bhutan late
blight is by far the most important disease.
Late blight
Late blight is an old and well known fungal (Phytophthora
infestans) disease of potato. It is today widely distributed in
South America, North America, Europe and Asia. In Bhutan, it has
been recorded in all the major potato growing areas. It occurs
epidemically every year in the mid and high hills due to prevalence
of cool temperature with monsoon rainfall during cropping period.
Late blight was reported in Bhutan as early as in 1970s as a common
and important disease contributing to the low production per unit
area. Potato varieties released in Bhutan have some degree of late
blight tolerance.
Viruses
Virus is a special concern for seed production. Most viruses are
widely, though unevenly, distributed throughout the world. The
spread of individual viruses varies from place to place and depends
on the climate, varietal patterns, vector population and seed
source. To date the most common virus (es) in Bhutan are PVA, PVS,
PVX, PVY and PLRV.
MANAGEMENT & CONTROL OF PESTS AND DISEASES
Selection of healthy seed is foundation of successful disease
management
Use FM radio stations & media to disseminate information on
disease forecast and management)
Scheduled chemical spray
Source varieties like Desiree, Kufri jyoti & Yusikaap that
are moderately resistance
PATHOGEN TESTS
Viruses can today be easily detected in the laboratory using the
electron microscopy but the most commonly applied method is the
serological methods like ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay).
ELISA tests are done on need basis at National Plant Protection
Centre under Department of Agriculture. Earlier during the start of
Seed program in 1980s virus detection test were done by the
Japanese scientists in the tissue culture lab and most of the
equipments and kits are still available in National Seed Centre Lab
but due to lack of trained personals and chemical reagents we
cannot perform the virus detection test procedures (ELISA).
TARGET CULTIVAR FOR HYDROPONIC
From 1960s onwards, modern varieties were introduced through the
Department of Agriculture and associated projects and formally
recommended 5 varieties potato in Bhutan namely Kufri jyoti,
Desiree, Khangma Kaap, Yusikaap & Nasephey Kewa Kaap. However,
the target cultivar for hydroponic would be Desiree and Khangmaa
kaap.
Over the last few decades after the introduction of substantial
number of potato varieties, Bhutanese farmers and consumers clearly
has preference over the red skin variety Desiree, which is
accounting for about 90% potato produced in the country and 4% of
Khangmaa kaap variety and rest 6%. Some growers believe that white
skinned varieties are less susceptible to wild boar damage when
compared to the red potato.
Variety
Desiree
Khangma Kaap
Origin
The Netherlands
Peru (CIP)
CIP number
800048
378015.13
Introduced
1970
1989
Released
1988
2002
Days to maturity
3000m)
Certified seed potatoes
1
Country report Bhutan, Asian Food and Agriculture cooperation
Initiative, 20th to 24th September, 2016
Typical potato production
systems
5000 m
4000 m
3000 m
2000 m
1000 m
Transhumance yak, cattle, sheep system. Potatofor
home consumption (3500-4500m)
Potatobuckwheat system (2800-3800m)
Potatowheat, barley rotation systems also
apple in favorable locations (2500 -2800m)
Potatomaize intercropping systems
(1500-2500m)
Potatorice systems, limited importance
(
