ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Agricultural Research Council has signed an agreement with a private firm to produce virus free potato tubers using tissue culture technology.
“Tissue culture technology is being widely used for large scale plant multiplication that gives a science based solution for plant propagation, disease elimination and plant improvement”, Dr. Muhammad Azeem Khan, Chairman PARC, has told during an agreement signing between PARC and UAE based firm Green System Pakistan Pvt. Limited on this Wednesday.
Dr. Azeem informed that earlier due to disease attacks on local potato varieties, Pakistan has to import potato tubers from Holland. With this agreement in coordination with private sector Pakistan will now produce virus free potato tubers locally, that will save valuable foreign exchange.
CEO PATCO, Dr. Muhammad Amjad and CEO Green System Pakistan Pvt. Limited, Rana Tahawar Ali Khan has signed the agreement.
While briefing about the agreement Dr. Amjad said that this agreement between PARC-PATCO and Green System Pakistan Pvt. Limited will initiate the collaboration and coordination among the parties in developing Screen Houses at NARC for expansion of work up to two million potato tubers that would help to reduce import of potato seeds.
He told that PARC is also going to arrange its laboratories for the production of healthy and good quality potato, date palm, banana and other plants to farming community.
Rana Tahawar has said that as a resource provider their company will provide all the required assistance and training to PARC scientists in this regard, particularly provision of tissue culture protocol for date palm will also be ensured.
Ensuring his full support Rana Tahawar added that we are looking forward for multiplication certification and export of healthy, disease free plants.
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