Success Story: Bringing Prosperity to Potato Growers through True Potato Seed (TPS) Cultivation: Exhilarating Success of KVK Intervention in Tripura State

 

Tripura is a small state in the Indian Territory consisting of only 10,486 sq. Km. of area with an altitude of  12.80 meters from the MSL, longitude of  91°09' and 92°20' East and latitudes of 22°56' and 24°32' North. The state is divided into eight districts namely, West Tripura, Khowai, South Tripura, Unakoti, Dhalai, North Tripura, Sepahijala and Gomati. Since time immemorial, the state is inhabited by a number of local tribes, namely Bhil, Bhutia, Chaimal, Chakma, Garo, Hamal, Jamatia, Khasia, Kuki, Lepcha, Lusai, Mog, Munda, Noatia, Orang, Reang, Santal, Tripuri and Uchui. Agriculture till date continues to be the primary source of income to majority of the population in Tripura state.

 

 
 

Visit of Hon’ble Agricultural Minister, Govt. of Tripura accompanied by the Director, Agriculture, Govt. of Tripura and KVK, North Tripura staff to a TPS grower’s field

  

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) popularly known as ‘the king of vegetables’, has emerged as the fourth most important food crop in Tripura after rice, wheat and maize. In the state, the crop is traditionally grown vegetatively through seed tubers which results in regular occurrence of various types of tuber borne diseases and consequent reduction in crop yield. After exploring feasible options, the State Department of Agriculture, Government of Tripura in 2014-15 decided to produce TPS seedling tubers in co-operative farming mode following cluster approach. The existing four KVKs in four districts namely, Dhalai, North, South and West district in the state were selected as the implementing agency. Each of the selected four KVKs were responsible for bringing under cultivation of TPS for production seedling tuber in 25 ha lands of the district farmers following cluster approach, each cluster being not less than 3 ha. An MOU was signed between the growers and the district KVK for making the produce available for purchase by the Tripura Horticulture Corporation Limited (THCL) @ Rs.25.00 per Kg provided quality of the produce as per given standard is ensured after thorough scrutiny by the KVK.The total area brought under TPS cultivation in 2014-15 was as high as 1605 ha and 6300 beneficiaries were covered in the process. Approximately 70% of area under potato cultivation in West district alone could be brought completely under TPS. Average yield of potato by TPS tuberlet and seedling realized was as high as 22 metric ton/ha. The net return earned by the TPS growers on an average was Rs. 2.49 Lakh/ha as compared to only 1.10 Lakh/ ha in traditional local practices. The B: C ratio worked out was  as high as 4.43 :1.0.

 
 

On farm training organized by KVKs of Tripura on several aspects of profitable TPS cultivation

  

A sample survey conducted with the potato growers in Tripura state revealed that more and more farmers have been opting for TPS technology, although majority of them opined that the traditionally grown potatoes were tastier. Exploitation of hybrid vigour in realization of yield, advantage of resistance to diseases and pests and above all the economy of production attracted them to adopt this technology. As only 100 g of TPS was sufficient for sowing 1 ha as compared to nearly 3 tonnes of seed tubers required to plant the same area, the overall drudgery felt by the farmers in TPS cultivation was much lesser. In order to make the popularized practices entirely location specific in terms of micro climate, judicious resource use and profit, the TPS growers often brought changes, modifications and refinements in the prescribed technologies. The ‘paired row concept of TPS cultivation’, introduced by a farmer, namely Mr. Rajmohan Debnath of Sonatala village situated at West Tripura district of Tripura is worth mentioning. As it was necessary to reduce the size of the tubers to be profitably used as planting materials, the innovation of a modified single row system, i.e. ‘paired row system’ of TPS cultivation served as a potential solution to the problem. It was an effective innovation as in this method the tuber size became smaller and could be easily used as planting material. Another innovation of another TPS grower, Sri Mohan Sarkar is also worth mentioning. Shri Sarkar, an innovative farmer of Patcherthal village situated at North district of Tripura developed an innovative implement which made it easy in preparation of lines with proper seed depth for sowing TPS. He made a wooden implement having two sharp pointers with 12 Cm gap aiding in double row method of sowing TPS to Tuberlet production. 

Although initial setbacks were encountered in terms of adoption of the technology by the farmers, later with simplified agronomic practices, as per feedback received from the farmers, success could be achieved. Overwhelmed with the success, the KVKs of the state in convergence with different government schemes, ICAR projects and district ATMA are further trying to bring under TPS cultivation the potato growing areas in their respective districts.

Prepared by:

S. Paul, Scientist
A.K. Tripathi, Director

ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI), Zone-III,
Umiam, Meghalaya- 793103

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