08 October 2020
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Tissue culture could reduce Pakistan's imports
TISSUE culture technology is being widely used in Pakistan for large-scale plant multiplication, enabling two million disease-resistant potatoes to be produced, the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council has revealed.
The science-based solution is enabling plant propagation, disease elimination and plant improvement, according to PARC. Disease attacks on local varieties have led to the country importing tubers from the Netherlands. A PARC spokesman said: "Through this agreement -in coordination with the private sector - we will produce virus-free potato tubers locally, which will save our valuable foreign exchange.”
PATCO CEO Dr Muhammad Amjad and Green System Pakistan CEO Rana Tahawar Ali Khan signed the agreement. Dr Amjad said the parties will work together to develop screen houses at NARC for expansion of up to two million potato tubers, which would help to reduce import of potato seeds.
