India: Agriculture College’s Potato Aeroponics Unit Inaugurated

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (RVSKVV)- College of Agriculture, inaugurated its potato aeroponics unit on the campus on Wednesday.

Aeroponics is a soil-less cultivation method where plant roots are suspended in the air and nourished through a nutrient-rich mist. In this process, potato seeds are derived from a tissue culture system, highlighting a sophisticated approach to cultivating potatoes with enhanced precision and efficiency said chief scientist of the project Bharat Singh.

During the inauguration of the unit, Arvind K Shukla, the vice chancellor of RVSKVV, Gwalior, emphasised the significance of adopting tissue culture for potato cultivation. He pointed out that conventional methods often result in viral infections affecting potato production, with these viruses remaining unseen until harvesting. Shukla highlighted the advantage of using tissue culture-derived seeds, ensuring virus-free potatoes and providing a longer seed durability of 5-6 years, ultimately benefitting the farmers with increased productivity and sustainability.

In addition, Shukla highlighted that this potato aeroponics unit is the second of its kind, with the first artificial unit located in Gwalior. However, this newly inaugurated unit at RVSKVV focuses on natural cultivation, utilising sunlight, air, and water to foster the growth of potatoes. This shift towards natural methods reflects a commitment to sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices.