BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The Northern Philippines Root Crops Research and Training Center (NPRCRTC) is encouraging private organizations to have their own tissue culture laboratory particularly for potato micropropagation for them to produce their own planting materials.
The NPRCRTC has implemented a project on Enhancing the Micropropagation System of Potato funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) where advanced technology is employed in seed potato production, particularly the microtuberization method.
Project leader Cynthia Kiswa, in a radio interview, said the NPRCRTC is willing to transfer the potato micro tuberization technology to private organizations who have their own tissue culture laboratory for them to produce their own planting materials.
“We are inviting some private organizations, private tissue culture laboratory para sana ma-transfer natin itong technology sa kanila, para sila na lang ang mag-plant tissue culture sa patatas,” Kiswa said.
The NPRCRTC is generating six potato varieties namely Bengueta, Igorota, Raniag, Cosima, Fina, and Granola. These are the most preferred varieties of farmers in Benguet based on a survey conducted, according to Kiswa.
It is now producing around 40,000 to 80,000 clean tissue-cultured planting materials or certified disease-free seed potatoes, of which 50 percent is being used for research and extension while the other 50 percent is used for seed potato production or distributed to farmers for multiplication.
Kiswa said they are distributing the potato planting materials to farmers on a first-come, first-served basis. The price ranges from P1.50 to P23.00 per piece, depending on the type of planting material.
“Ang ating mga farmers, they kasi nakita talaga nila ang dulot nito sa kanilang ani. Marami ng mga farmers ang gumagamit ng tissue-cultured materials sa kanilang seed potato production,” Kiswa said.
[Our farmers are already receptive of this kind of technology because they have seen the effects on their produce. Many farmers are using tissue-cultured materials in their seed potato production.]
The enhancement of the micropropagation system for seed potato production was among the focuses of the Potato Research and Development Center established under the Niche Centers in the Regions for Research and Development Program of the DOST that was launched in 2019.
According to DOST, clean seed potatoes are reported to double the yield of farmers and increase profit ranging from 66 percent to 180 percent, as compared to using old seeds that are usually saved from the previous planting season, which are often infected with diseases.
Kiswa also noted the advantages of the potato microtuberization method of seed production. It is an efficient method of fast multiplication of basic seed tubers; the production is not affected by climate change; the production is year-round; no chemical sprays are needed or it is easier to maintain; small space is needed in production, and the laboratory facility is a lasting structure.
Among the drawbacks of the technology include; it is expensive, it requires high technical skills, and requires cold seed storage.
Kiswa said they have experts in the center who could train private organizations that want to do potato micro tuberization. (DEG-PIA CAR)
