Productivity and Preferences of New Potato Varieties and their Relationships in Five Districts of Bhutan

Abstract

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the widely cultivated horticultural commodities in Bhutan. Over the years yields of potato at national level have stagnated due to degeneration of seeds and lack of appropriate varieties in the country. To address the yield stagnation issue, two potato varieties (Yusi Maap and Nasphel Kewa Kaap (NKK)) were introduced in recent years. To understand crop productivity and farmer’s preferences of the new varieties this study was conducted in Bumthang, Chukha, Gasa, Haa, and Wangduephodrang districts from 2017 to 2018 using the field demonstration trials and participatory varietal selection method. Desiree, the popular variety was used as a control. On an average across years and dzongkhags, mean yields of the NKK and Yusi Maap were 10.4 and 10.5 tons/acre, respectively. Hence, yields of Yusi Maap and NKK were approximately 30% higher in comparison to Desire, which was 7.30 tons/acre on an average across the years and dzongkhags. Being one of the oldest varieties, Desiree consistently showed lower productivity compared to other two varieties due to seed degeneration and quality deterioration. Although the productivity difference between NKK and Yusi Maap is minimal (0.10 tons/acre) the preference votes of Yusi Maap was 1.3 times that of NKK indicating the higher level of preferences for Yusi Maap. There was positive significant relationship (P=0.02) between the potato productivity and the farmer’s preference suggesting that higher productivity attracted more votes and lower productivity attracted lesser votes. Further higher productivity is also seen as a means to earn cash income for the household to achieve food security in terms of household’s consumptions through the sale of potatoes. The findings provide a sound scientific basis to guide program implementers and policy-makers in terms of potato research and development at the national level.

Empirical Evidence of the Livelihood Vulnerability to Climate Change Impacts: A Case of Potato-Based Mountain Farming Systems in Bhutan

“…Similar to our findings, potato farming was forecasted to be severely impacted in the future, especially in the higheraltitude districts such as Wangdue or Bumthang, due to increasing temperatures [12]. Such emerging climatic threats would mean that the livelihood of most of the 34,000 households currently residing in these altitudinal ranges and depending solely on potato crop farming may face a substantial risk [51]. Other studies suggest similar findings, with dwindling agricultural productivity impacting the poorest household inordinately due to natural disasters and climate variability [95,96].…”

“…in the temperate agroecological zone, for their livelihood [4,51]. The revenue generated through the sale of potatoes was BTN 709.81 million in 2019 (USD 1 ≈ BTN 72) [52].…”

“…Although the dependency on agriculture farming for food was very high across all the study districts (≥95%, except in Bumthang), the average number of months faced with food shortage was 0.07 or less. The highest numbers of months facing food shortages were reported by the respondents from Bumthang (0.07); however, they were also known to have better purchasing abilities to meet their food shortage using the revenue generated through potato sales [51,52], which is their primary source of income. The short window of food shortages was filled employing different livelihood diversification strategies, such as taking up off-farm activities, to meet the households' food needs in Bhutan [71].…”

“…Of the various crop-based farming systems in Bhutan [48], the typical mountain-based potato farming system has played a vital role in supporting the livelihood of farmers since its formal introduction in the 1970s [49]. From its humble beginnings as a homestead garden crop [49], the potato has become the most widely cultivated, consumed, and traded crop in Bhutan [50,51]. It is currently cultivated by 34,000 rural households, mostly in the temperate agroecological zone, for their livelihood [4,51].…”

“…From its humble beginnings as a homestead garden crop [49], the potato has become the most widely cultivated, consumed, and traded crop in Bhutan [50,51]. It is currently cultivated by 34,000 rural households, mostly in the temperate agroecological zone, for their livelihood [4,51]. The revenue generated through the sale of potatoes was BTN 709.81 million in 2019 (USD 1 ≈ BTN 72) [52].…”