Summary:
- Reports indicate that the potential demand for quality Irish potato seeds in Uganda is estimated at 239,328 tons, while seed availability is only 0.13% of this demand.
KABALE: A crop pathologist expert attached to Kachwekano Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (KAZARDI) in Kabale District Dr Abel Arinaitwe has urged Irish potato farmers in the Kigezi Region to avoid using low-quality seeds obtained from open markets and previous harvests.
Dr. Arinaitwe made this appeal on Wednesday while addressing concerns from Irish potato farmers from Kashabya sub-county, Rukiga District, during a field study at Charles Byarugaba’s clean and quality seed potato production enterprise in Nyabyumba village, Kamuganguzi sub-county, Kabale District.
He highlighted that the use of low-quality, non-certified seeds leads to low yields citing how farmers use seeds from the previous season without practicing positive selection or purchasing them from open markets and neighbors. Dr. Arinaitwe attributed low yields in Uganda to high incidences of diseases such as viruses, late blight, and bacterial wilt, as well as the use of low-quality seeds and inadequate soil fertility management.
Cue in Arinaitwe…..on the disease……RR/ENG//.
Charles Byarugaba, the proprietor of the CK clean and quality seed potato production enterprise, noted that many Irish potato diseases, such as bacterial wilt, spread due to poor farming methods and the use of unsterilized garden tools. He emphasized that these issues can be mitigated by digging bench terraces to prevent the spread of bacteria through rainwater runoff.
Cue in Byarugaba……on Spreading……..RR//.
Reports indicate that the potential demand for quality Irish potato seeds in Uganda is estimated at 239,328 tons, while seed availability is only 0.13% of this demand. However, KAZARDI has continued to produce new potato seed varieties, such as NARO Pot 5 and NARO Pot 6, through biotechnology to help farmers achieve higher yields for food security and income generation.
