Agartala, Aug 08, 2022, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala Aug 08: A Seminar-cum-Workshop on “Better and cheaper production of potato planting materials using apical rooted cutting in Tripura and its prospects” was held at Horticulture Research Complex, Nagicherra on Monday.

State Agriculture department secretary Apurva Roy presided over the programs.

Besides, Horticulture Dept Officer Anibhushan Jamatiya, Agriculture Officer Sardendu Das and other dignitaries remained present on the occasion.

Addressing at the Seminar, Apurva Roy said, “Apical rooted cuttings could be the answer to India’s long-standing potato seed problem by decentralizing seed production and bringing it closer to the production belts”.

He added, states like Haryana and Punjab have achieved huge success through this technique. And the farmers of Tripura will also be benefitted for sure.

Detailing the technique, he said, in aeroponic, tissue culture plantlets are used to produce mini tubers using capital intensive aeroponic technology in screen houses, whereas in apical cuttings the tissue culture plantlets are used as mother plants in coco pits for producing cuttings.

In six weeks, one mother plant can be multiplied to produce 8 plants and the number goes to more than 15 in 12 weeks. These cuttings are transplanted on the seed bed and once rooted, are moved to net houses or open field for producing mini tubers or seed tubers. This low-cost technology has been practiced in Vietnam for decades.

The Officers and other dignitaries added that state farmers will be imparted special training on this and all sort of help will be made available for successful production of potatoes in Tripura.