New potato seed unveiled

Business Reporter
A NEW potato seed, which is expected to help increase potato production, has been unveiled. True potato seed (TPS), also known as BSS265, is a new variety of potato seed which has grains like those of a tomato. It is being imported from India.In an interview, Edda seeds consultant agronomist Lovemore Nyakazela said the new variety was frost resistant and is a first generation seed because the seeds are harvested from the plant.

“TPS is a first generation seed that makes it to be resistant from most diseases which is an advantage on its own,” he said.
He said unlike when using tubers, farmers can plant potatoes all year round using the seed because it is frost resistant. Zimbabwe normally experiences frost during the winter season between May and July.

“This seed is frost resistant and it can be planted all year round unlike using tubers where one has to wait until the winter season is over to plant them because they are easily affected by frost,” he said.

Nyakazela said the variety was ideal for field and sack potato planting.

“TPS is good for both field and sack potato planting, for those who plant them in the fields they have to grow them on seed beds and then transplant them to the field after 20 to 25 days of germination, while those in sack potato planting can plant them directly into the sacks,” he said.

The other advantage of TPS is that it is much cheaper to transport when compared to tubers.

“It is easy to transport the seeds which are sold in 10 gram packs and 100 grams is enough for a hectare. This gives it an advantage over tubers because they are costly to transport,” he said.

Nyakazela said the major disadvantage of the seed was that a number of farmers lack knowledge of preparing and monitoring the seedbeds and thus they get disappointing results. The seed takes between four and seven days to germinate and can be transplanted into the fields after 20 to 25 days.