India: Dr Gosal, potato seed growers discuss speed breeding methods

Members of the Khatra Potato Seed Group met Dr SS Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), to extend an invitation for their upcoming farmer training programme and inauguration of Gill Potato Seed Manuke Tissue Culture Laboratory on January 27 at Manuke village.

The Khatra Group, which includes over 2,000 farmers from Ludhiana, Moga and nearby areas, operates a thriving WhatsApp community connecting growers, many of whom are associated with contract farming giants such as PepsiCo and McCain.

During the interaction, Dr Gosal emphasised the importance of forming an organised potato growers’ association. He assured the group of PAU’s full support in areas like tissue culture, seed development (G1, G2), pest and disease management, balanced nutrition, potato processing, packing and marketing.

Highlighting PAU’s innovative potato breeding programme launched in 2016, Dr Gosal elaborated on using off-season facilities at Keylong, Himachal Pradesh, to develop varieties suited to Punjab’s conditions. He shared the success of Punjab Potato 101 and Punjab Potato 102, introduced in 2023, which are high-yielding and feature white and light yellow flesh. These varieties are tailored for main-season cultivation and have been well-received by farmers.

Dr Gosal also discussed speed breeding techniques pioneered at the PAU, which have reduced the time required to develop new potato varieties from 10 to just 4-5 years. He emphasised the adaptability of Punjab’s soil and climate for potato cultivation, urging farmers to leverage the technical support and knowledge available through PAU’s intensive research.