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, writes Outlook India. Apical cuttings are an alternative to the current aeroponic seed production system.
In India, potato seeds are produced in Punjab using seed plot technique and aeroponic technology and transported up to 2,000 km to potato growing states of eastern and southern India. The high transportation cost is borne by the poor farmers who have to pay high seed prices as well. The spread of aeroponic technology has been limited to Punjab because of its high capital requirement and long gestation period of nearly four years before any return comes in. So an alternative solution for producing convenient potato seeds is needed in the country.