True potato seed for farmers

In many agricultural systems in the world they continue to use the method of planting the potatoes with the seed tuber. This has limited the expansion of production in tropical areas, because the current system requires having storage infrastructures, a good road network, an organized transport system and very costly to the farmer's pocket.

To alleviate this problem, it will be necessary to think about producing a true potato seed that has many advantages for farmers. A seed that represents less production costs for the farmer, easy to store and transport, reduces the possibility of spreading the diseases and allows expansion as production areas and the insertion of other agricultural and economic agents in the production chain.

The use of this technology influences the development of the rural economy with the creation of more jobs for young people or the same people.

The potato seed tuber limits the expansion and intervention of farmers in the production for consumption business.

Seed tuber is the vegetative used in planting millions of hectares to produce  potatoes for human consumption. The problem persists even today, that millions of tons of tubers are used to plant. These tons of potatoes planted in the ground to obtain other potatoes could serve as food for many people on our planet.

This way of producing is very expensive, where the tuber-seed value represents between 40% and 60% of the total costs (Semilla botânica, 2020). The amount of seed tubers required to plant (1) a hectare of production is 1.5 tons, compared to the botanical seed which is 50 – 100g. Adding to other factors, healthy and vigorous seed tubers are difficult to produce, store and transport. They are also carriers of diseases and pests that affect yield and quality of production (True Potatoes Seeds: an alternative methods for Potatoes Producion, 1983). The traditional method of planting tuber-seed requires large storage infrastructures and a good transport system that requires greater energy consumption. This contributes to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions, affecting the planet's climatic balance.

True potato seed, also called botanical seed, results from sexual reproduction, and is formed inside the fruits / berries that look like small green tomatoes (CPRI, 2004).

The solution is to produce true potato seed. Because access to this technology for farmers will allow the expansion of cultivation in areas where it was previously impossible to grow, as they are in tropical, warm and humid areas, because it is difficult to produce and store large tons of seed tubers. It would reduce to a minimum the problems associated with diseases transmitted by seed tubers and only a few pathogens are carried by the seed.

Can be conveniently and cheaply, from one agricultural season to another or for several years. Its transport is easy and economical. Helping to reduce greenhouse gases by reducing energy consumption to store and transport. It can be easily incorporated into existing agricultural systems because the sowing time does not depend on the seedling tuber sprouting stage. True potato seed is a low-cost material that can reduce the total cost of production. To sow 1 (one) hectare, the farmer only needs approximately 50-100 g, compared to 1.5 to 2 tons.

Angolan farmers in 2018 the an annual production of potatoes was of 806,552 tons in 131,403 hectares (FAOSTAT, 2020). Part of this production was used as seed tuber, instead of serving for human consumption. Translated into transportation, storage and production costs. Once this true potato seed technology is available, it will benefit farmers. Because it will make it possible to double production, reduce production costs and prevent this great food from being used for sowing. Therefore, farmers save on the purchase of true potato seed because a 100 g can or bag will cost less than 1 (one) ton of seed tuber to plant. This will help to invest the money saved in other businesses.

This change will have a positive impact on the lives of farmers and their families. It will also influence the value chain in reducing potato prices for consumption practiced by intermediaries and traders. Facilitating increased productivity and production with the advantage of having reduced prices for end consumers.

With this, more investment will be made in the rural economy with the benefit of creating more jobs for youth and populations in neighboring communities and also contribute to teach good production practices.

True potato seed production makes life easier for farmers because by reducing production costs, it will allow a larger group of farmers to enter the potato production business. It will also influence economic agents from other neighboring countries. Being a new technology with economic advantages you can find some challenges in the target group, which are farmers. But with the use of collective participation techniques in the promotion of true potato seed, the technology will be disseminated to all players in the cultivation chain.

Change seed tuber to true potato seed.

Reduced transport and conservation costs access to production from the farmer to any individual.

True potato seed less likely to spread disease

Development of the rural economy.

Job creation.

Contribution to reducing numbers of people living in poverty.

TPS get the seed from the botanical seed found on the potato plant.

In commercial potato production from true potato seeds (TPS), seedlings are planted in a greenhouse or seedbed and later transplanted to the field to produce tubers for consumption.

The implications of producing potato seeds from this method are enormous better than traditionally seed potato comes in the form of potato tuber. It will greatly impact the cost of seed and seed transportation, amount of storage needed, and the rate of multiplication.   

• 100g TPS replaces 2 tons seed tubers
•  Less risk of infection
• Less phytosanitary constraints
• Single seed weighs less than a milligram
• Stored for years
• Disease-free seed with natural resistances
• More flexible planting
• Reduced costo f production and better quality

In biology, the true potato seed is a form of sexual reproduction between two individuals of different sexes to generate a descendant. The International Institute of Potato (CIP), proved that this technology is possible and countries like China, India, Vietnam and others are examples. But it is necessary to expand this technology in other parts of the world to face the food challenge of the coming years.

 http://cipotato.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/TPS18865.pdf

Using true potato seed to produce potatoes would change the lives of millions of farmers worldwide. Communities with difficulties in accessing transport and storage of tubers would be producing potatoes for consumption and sale.

The production costs would drop in a very drastic way that would allow any farmer with few resources to enter in the business. Other players would enter in the business. Allowing greater job offers, rural development and low prices to the final consumer. This would represent a turning point in agricultural systems around the world, especially in those parts of the world that do not know the importance of this food in human nutrition.

When it is implemented it will reach many farmers.  Angola has a capacity of 1,985,987 families working in agriculture. Parts of these dedicated to the cultivation of potatoes. In one year, 8,000 farmers can benefit.

As the technology is disseminated, gain strength by influencing other farmers. This technology crossed the border that changed the lives of farmers and their families, traders and industrial processors. In the five year the goal will serve 100.000 farmers.

It is a new technology. It would be necessary to promote its dissemination to reach customers quickly. So in the coming years reach the largest number of interested customers. In one year 8000 and in the next 5 years the technology has already spread our goal and reach more than 100,000.

The first barrier that exists is the financial resources that I do not have to implement this project, which, in my opinion, would help many farmers and seed production companies. This technology would expand in many regions of the world, to influence this similar initiatives. If it eliminates this financial barrier, the other would be easier to solve, such as human resources, technology, etc.

Look for other forms of financing. Interested partners, investors so that they can understand my cause and finance. Regarding technology and human resources. I have dedicated learning to more knowledge. Proof of this is my participation in this event solve.

2 ful time staff

3 part time staff

Our team is a combination of people with a different views on life. We have accountants, agronomists who better understand the impact of this solution. Many of us experience the difficulties of our grandparents, that will not be able to produce potatoes. Some for lack of knowledge and others for lack of storage infrastructure and transport. For this reason, we are well positioned because we understand that the solution will minimize the lives of many farmers and families by creating income and more jobs.

Technology development for farmers Strategic market for the target group: seed companies, traders and farmers.

Sales plan to reach other national and international markets.

Advertise the product.

Investing in product quality.

I intend that my knowledge helps to change the world for the better. Thank God I found Solve who is willing to listen to me, on how he can help me make my dream come true.

We are living in the world, where the knowledge come more important to achieve our goals.

We are open mind that all skills and  capacity is welcome for us, because allow us to serve best service for our client.

In that all those support for us, we considered come in the  first place, because it will help us to scale and achieve our mission of serve.

Any visionary organization that share the same goal with the diferent view.

MTI faculty and Solve team.

This technology will allow refugees to grow their own food at less cost to ensure their food security.

Women for the development of our planet. They are at the forefront of educating children around the world. Many women play the dual role of father and mother. The farmers who are the first beneficiaries are many women. So this solution will have a change in their lives.

The world population will double in 2050. This means that there will be a lot of tension in the demand for food. Adding to climate change, the world will find it difficult to provide the greatest good for human beings, the basic food for their survival, one of the goals of development. The previous technology of producing potatoes using tuber seed would allow millions of tonnes of potatoes to be buried in the soil that could serve to feed millions of people worldwide. With this new technology, we would no longer need to bury the food to produce another food. We would save millions of foreign exchange and feed mankind.

The technology we are proposing will have a huge influence on people's lives. But whoever will lead the world change better for everyone is each one of the citizens of this planet.