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POTATO PROGRAMME, KURU
P.MB. 04, VOM, PLATEAU
STATE
Highlight of Research Achievements
The Potato Programme,
which is located in Kuru on Jos Plateau (about1230
meters above the sea level), was opened in 1975 with the
mandate to conduct demand-driving research leading to
the development of improved potato genotypes and
production packages for increased potato production and
extending same to farmers in liaison with the ADPs. The
low temperatures prevailing on the Plateau was a major
factor in locating the Programme in this area. Being a
temperate crop potato requires a minimum temperature of
15-20oC for three consecutive months for
successful production. This condition eliminates areas
like Abia, Imo, Enugu and all States South of Benue and
Kwara States. These areas are considered too hot for
potato production. Apart from Jos Plateau, potato can
also be grown on the Obudu highlands in Cross River
State, Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State and Biu Plateau
in Borno State. During the cold harmattan months of
November – February, potato can also be grown in abouit
eleven Northern States, such as Borno, Yobe, Zamfara,
Bauchi, Katsina, Kano, Gombe, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kaduna and
Kebbi under irrigation.
About 95% of total
potato production still comes from Jos Plateau. In 1991
about 400,000 tonnes was produced in Nigeria. Current
production estimate is about 800,000 tonnes. Potato is
one of the fastest expanding tuber crops in Nigeria
largely as a result of the impact of the programmes
activities.
These achievements in
the areas of total production and expansion of the crop
were possible as a result of the following research
achievements:
1.
Breeding
and development of New Improved Potato Varieties
The programme is the
most important source of new improved potato genotypes
available to farmers in Nigeria. It is also an important
source of high quality seed. This has helped to sustain
high yields at farmer’s level. Among the locally bred
varieties RC767-2, RC7716-4, RC7716-3 and RC777-3 are
popular among farmers and are high yielding and
resistant to major potato diseases and pests. The
imported elite varieties that have been adapted to local
conditions include Nicola, Bertita, Diamant, Kondor,
Famosa and BR63-18. Some advanced potato genotypes
received from CIP (International Potato Centre) are
promising and are at advanced stages of evaluation
preparatory to release. Nicola is the most popular
variety amongst potato farmers in Nigeria.
2
Development of efficient potato storage structures.
The
potato potato programme successfully adapted the
diffused light potato storage technology originally
developed by the International potato center (CIP) to
the local Nigerian conditions.
Between 1996 and 1998 this structure was modified to
reduce cost while still retaining its efficiency in
other to improve adoption by end users. The diffused
light potato storage structure (DLS) can be adapted for
storage of seed and ware potato. It reduces storage
losses at farmers level from 40% to less than 10% and
can store potato tubers for 4 – 5 months.
3. Improved
Cultural Practices:
(a)
Weed
Control;
(i)
Critical time of weed interference established.
(ii) Best times for manual weeding established.
(iii) Chemical weed control:
Sencor
applied pre-emergence at 4 Lt/ha.
Galex
applied pre-emergence at 5 Lt/ha.
(b)
Fertilizer Rates:
(i)
100kgN &
P205/ha + 40kg K20/ha.
Applied by
side dressing within 4 weeks after planting.
(ii) Poultry manure at
6 tonnes/ha.
© Time of
Planting: At the on-set of rains, April – May or
November – December for irrigated farming.
(d) Disease
Control:
(i) Late
blight
-
Early planting and use of early maturing varieties.
- Use of resistant
varieties.
- Application of
fungicides to plants;
Dithane at 2kg/ha
Ridomil MZ 1.5kg/ha.
(ii)
Bacterial wilt
- Use resistant
varieties.
-
Rouging out of
infected plants.
Farmers have
already adopted most these cultural practices developed
by the Potato programme
4. Use of True Potato
Seed in place of Seed Tubers for potato production.
The
technology developed adapted from the International
Potato Centre (CIP) by the Potato Programme has the
following advantages;
(i) The
new technology reduced production cost of potato by over
40%.
Only 150
grammes needed to plant 1ha as against 2.0 tonnes
of
seed tubers.
(ii)
Reduced
storage cost of seed tuber by 30%. Seed tubers can
only store outside refrigeration for 4 – 5 months, but
TPS remain viable after 5 years of storage.
(iii)
Use of
TPS for planting eliminates most tuber borne diseases
of potato e.g. Bacterial wilt.
(iv)
Transportation costs of seed tuber are reduced. The
new
Technology is now at on-farm level of evaluation.
5. EXTENSION ACTIVITIES OF THE POTATO PROGRAMME AND ADPs
This has helped to
transfer the developed technologies to farmers.
The adoption of the
technologies by farmers was largely responsible for
the expansion and increased production of potato.
STAFF
OF THE POTATO PROGRAMME
Research Scientists/officers
1.
Amadi
Charles BSc MSc PhD. Plant breeder/Geneticist. Assistant
Chief Research officer. Coordinator Potato Programme,
Head Kuru Sub-station.
2.
Lenka
Daniel BSc MSc. Agric Economist. Senior Research Officer
3.
Dung
Emmanuel BSc. Agric Economist. Research Officer 1
4.
Danbaba Anthony BSc. Crop Science. Research Officer 1
5.
Dalyop
Thomas BSc. Crop/Soil Sciences. Research Officer 1
6.
Daure
Gambo BSc. Crop Science. Research Officer 11
Agricultural Superintendents
1.
Kun
Dauda. HND. Chief Agric Superintendent
2.
Okafor
Emmanuel. HND. Assistant Chief Agric Superintendent
3.
Lang
Abraham. HND. Principal Agric Superintendent
4.
Fom
Vou. HND. Higher Agric. Superintendent
5.
Amadi
Genevieve. HND. Higher Agric. Superintendent
Supporting Staff
1.
Goodluck Toyin. HND. HEO Admin. Head Admin Unit
2.
Udensi
Francis. SEO Accounts. Head Admin Unit
3.
Amos
Lowaneti. ASO Head Stores Unit
COLLABORATORS
1.
International Potato Centre (CIP) Lima Peru
2.
Root
and Tuber Crop Expansion Project (RTEP)
3.
National Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI)
4.
Plateau State Agricultural Project (PADP)
5.
Taraba
State Agricultural Project (TADP)
6.
Development in Nigeria (DIN), Obudu.
FF For
further information
Please contact:
potato@nrcri.org
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