Challenges and opportunities for quality seed potato availability and production in Uganda

Abstract

Potato yields in Uganda have remained low at 7.5 t ha-1. This low yield is attributed to low yielding varieties, poor management practices and lack of quality seed potatoes among other factors. This study was conducted to ascertain the challenges and opportunities of quality seed potato availability and production in the southwestern highlands agro-ecological zone (SWHAEZ). A total of 15 farmer groups were randomly selected from a sample size of 200 farmers and individually interviewed. The results of study indicated that high transaction costs (43.5%), lack of clear seed delivery system (40.5%) and limited information on the source of seed (14.0%) were the main constraints limiting farmers' access to and use of quality seed potato. Up to 93% of the farmers in SWHAEZ use home saved seed from previous harvests and conventional ware potato markets, whose quality is not guaranteed. Although over 70% of the farmers were convinced that quality of seed had a positive effect on yield increase, 72% of them still use poor quality seed often infected by bacterial wilt. In addition, 52% of the farmers lacked specific storage facilities for potato seed; and this further lowered the grade of the seed quality. However, a number of opportunities existed for production and access to quality seed including; various proven technologies for producing quality seed potato and ready demand for potato seed and ware potato. Of the seed potato production technologies, positive selected seed (PSS) seemed to have the highest quantity of seed; while basic seed produced heaviest tubers than the rest of the technologies.

In vitro somatic embryogenesis and regeneration potential of two potato varieties in Uganda

“…However, the productivity has stagnated between 5 -7.5 t/ha at farmers level for many years while on-station yields go as high as 20 t/ha (FAOSTAT, 2014). This yield gap is attributed to pests and diseases (mainly late blight and bacterial wilt), low yielding varieties, poor disease management practices (Olanya et al, 2001), inadequate soil fertility management (Lemaga et al, 2001) and use of low quality seed potatoes (Byarugaba et al, 2017;Aheisibwe et al, 2015). With the rapid development of cell engineering, studies using suspension cells as starting plant material have gained momentum over the past several years.…”

Participatory assessment of potato farming systems, production constraints and cultivar preferences in Uganda

“…On the other hand, the use of quality seed potato in other regions can be ascribed to their proximity to the research stations and NGOs working on potato. However, this percentage (2%) is still low and it can be explained by the high cost of seed, bulkiness of potato seed and insufficient quantities produced by these research stations (Aheisibwe et al, 2015). In addition, farmers can keep their seed for two to three seasons without replacement (Muthoni et al, 2013).…”

Bridging the gap in quality and quantity of seed potatoes through farmer managed screen houses in Uganda

“…If farmer saved seed potatoes are used for several cropping cycles, without renewing the seed lot from a reliable source, seed-borne diseases cause severe yield and quality losses (Gildemacher et al, 2009). The potential demand for seed potatoes is estimated at 239,328 tones (Aheisibwe et al, 2015). However, availability of diseasefree seed potato is less than 5% of the whole potato seed market demand in Uganda which is normally produced by Kachwekano Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (KAZARDI) (KAZARDI, 2014).…”

“…Lack of quality basic seed potato by farmers is widely recognized as a key constraint to potato production in Uganda and other East African countries (Aheisibwe et al, 2015). In potato production, the quality of seed potatoes planted is an important determinant of the final yield and quality (Lanteri and Quagliotti, 1997).…”

“…Kachwekano Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (KAZARDI) has been spearheading the country's seed potato production using in vitro derived mini-tubers for multiplication to basic level in Uganda. Despite these significant advancement good quality seed remains a scarce commodity (Aheisibwe et al, 2015) and other approaches of farmer managed quality production systems are hence needed to bridge the seed gap (Kinyua et al, 2008). International Potato Centre recommends the use of tissue culture and minitubers production through aeroponics technology and use of screen houses as approaches that can quickly multiply quality seed potatoes (Farran and Mingo-Castel, 2006;Gildemacher et al, 2009).…”