Sufficiency in Seed Potato Production Key Objective of Pakistan-Korea Partnership in Aeroponics: Chairman PARC

ISLAMABAD ( WNAM REPORT): A three-day training program on Certified Seed Potato Production, was organized at the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) in Islamabad from January 7-9, 2025. The training, focused on the Aeroponic Potato Seed Production System, witnessed the participation of forty individuals, including representatives from seed companies, agricultural extension services, and farmers from across the country. Addressing the training session, Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali (S.I), Chairman PARC, highlighted the significance of developing aeroponic potato seeds for Pakistan. He said that traditional potato cultivation yields only five tubers per plant, whereas aeroponic systems can produce between 50 to 60 tubers per plant. Despite cultivating potatoes on approximately 850,000 acres, Pakistan remains heavily reliant on the importation of 6,000 to 12,000 tonnes of seed potatoes annually due to the compromised quality of locally produced seeds. This dependency places a financial strain on the country, as farmers struggle to afford high-quality imported seeds, resulting in suboptimal yields. Dr. Ali also expressed gratitude to the government of the Republic of Korea for its financial and technical contributions to Pakistan’s agricultural sector.
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of Korea are collaborating on the production of seed potatoes using aeroponics technology. This partnership between the Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture (KOPIA) and the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) aims to enhance agricultural productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, promote on-farm processing, facilitate human resource development, and create substantial employment opportunities. Dr. Cho Gyoung-Rae, Director KOPIA-Pakistan Center, outlined the project’s objective to supply 160,000 tons of certified seed potatoes annually, starting in the fifth year of the production cycle. He further elaborated the project’s infrastructure, which includes the construction of four aeroponic greenhouses and 35 screen-houses, as well as the establishment of a cold storage facility and a 100 KW solar power system, all provided by KOPIA to meet the target production goals. Dr. Cho assured continued technical and financial support through KOPIA.
Dr. Aish Muhammad, the Project Coordinator, emphasized that the initiative aims to reduce the cost of potato production while improving yields by ensuring the availability of quality seed potatoes at affordable prices. This, he noted, would facilitate Pakistan’s self-sufficiency in seed potato production. He also outlined the training schedule both within Pakistan and in South Korea as part of the project. Dr. Kazim Ali, the Project In-charge, provided an overview of the project’s targets and achievements, assuring the participants of the quality of the seed potatoes and the transparency in the distribution process to farmers and seed companies.