Farmer's son develops disease-free potato seed

Jang Bahadur Singh Sangha, a local farmer who has done his MSc in plant physiology and pathology from Cornell University in the United States, with a specialisation in potato seed, has set up a laboratory in the farms owned by his father, and has been carrying out multiplication or cloning of potato seeds through tissue culture and supplying the disease-free potato seeds all over the country, which he claims would increase the production by up to 25 per cent.

Sangha thought of applying the technique of Limited Generation Seed Potato Production to produce good quality seeds in the country. 

After setting up his lab, Sangha began producing of potato seeds by using the technique in his laboratory for which machines were imported from abroad and some purchased from within the country.

Sangha said that while producing the seed, the basic thing is to produce a seed free from fungus, bacteria and viruses.

Sangha also revealed that through cloning or multiplication, they produce about one lakh plants from a single seed. Sangha, who is the general secretary of POSCON, a federation of the potato growers, says that other seed which they have created are in high demand in various parts of the country.

He also revealed that they produce about 55,000-60,000 metric tonnes of seed annually which is produced on a 55,00-60,00 acre land taken on lease from farmers in the state.

He said that out of this total produce, two-third is sold to farmers and one-third is kept for further generation of seeds. "I am very happy by the fact that seeds produced by us give the maximum yield to the farmers and their efforts don't go futile." added Sangha.

Meanwhile, when asked about the seriousness of the Government in encouraging the diversification in the state, Sangha said that it suits the Union government that the farmers of the state be engulfed in the wheat and paddy circles as it is through that that the nation will get its national food security.