Pakistan-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) has proposed to grow Chinese varieties of potatoes to enhance disease free production. PCJCCI leaders – during a think-tank session at the PCJCCI Secretariat -Lahore mentioned that Chinese potato varieties were known for their resistance to pests and diseases, making them a valuable resource for Pakistan to enhance its potato germ plasma.
They suggested the establishment and promotion of Tissue-Culture Laboratories, highlighting that Pakistan is a significant potato exporter and self-sufficient in domestic potato consumption, Gwadar Pro reported.
Moazzam Ghurki, President of the joint chamber, noted that recent floods had caused extensive damage to various crops in Pakistan, but potato production had risen to 7.937 million tons in the fiscal year 2022-23, a 35 percent increase from 5.873 million tons in the previous fiscal year. This growth was attributed to the fact that Punjab, a major potato-producing region, was unaffected by the floods.
In contrast, Pakistan imports 20,000 tons of potato seeds annually, leading to a heavy reliance on foreign seeds and high initial production costs, as around 35 to 40 percent of the expenses are allocated to seeds.
Source: dailytimes.com.pk