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Netherlands aids Pakistan in growing salt-tolerant potatoes

The Netherlands and Pakistan have agreed to increase bilateral cooperation in the field of agriculture and horticulture in order to promote the sectors in each country. The decision was made in a meeting between the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Jeannete Seppen, and Minister for National Food Security and Research, Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan.

The both sides also discussed issues relating the import of ‘Paramount Potato Seed’ to further boost production of potatoes and allow for more salt-tolerant varieties to be grown in the country.


Potato specialists from the Netherlands

In Depalpur, Punjab, the first-ever yield of salt-resistant potatoes was experimented with in 2015, under a joint project of Dutch agricultural innovation and Pakistani entrepreneurs. The combination of salt-tolerant varieties, adapted agricultural practices and conjunctive water use has resulted in an acceptable expected yield of 20 tonnes of potatoes per hectare.

Pakistan imports 10,000 to 15,000 tonnes of high-quality certified seeds from Holland. Potato seed is further multiplied by the national seed companies for distribution to farmers. The volume of certified seed potato is low and is an added reason for non-availability of sufficient certified seed potato in the country.

According to the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, only one to two per cent of quality seed is available in the country. Despite this drawback, the country produced about four million tonnes of potato this season. The food ministry has found certain shortcomings in the potato crop in a recent evaluation.

The minister said matching joint ventures in other sectors would further boost the bilateral cooperation between both the countries and benefit the people of the two nations.

source: thecattlesite.com

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