Seed Plot System

Abstract

On-farm potato production does not achieve potential yields due to the poor quality seed potatoes commonly used by farmers. The seed potato is often biased towards under-sized tubers from a ware cropping system. Such seed is usually infested by diseases such as bacterial wilt, those caused by viruses, and other tuber-borne problems. To improve the availability of adequate quantities of high-quality seed potatoes, an innovative way of multiplying seed potatoes known as the seed-plot technique, has been developed for smallholder fanners. The technique is akin to a seed potato 'nursery'.