Irish potato farmers across the country have for years been counting losses every farming season due to a fungal disease that had been clearing their gardens. The disease had resulted into low farm produce which affected the market prices. But farmers now have a self-relief after an independent researcher Erostus Nsubuga bred a disease-resistant Irish variety. “This variety is produced in a laboratory and is disease and pest free. So this is an opportunity to produce Irish potato seed free from diseases and pests which has been a big problem to potato farmers across the country. And potatoes have not been on the priority list of food crops here simply because farmers don’t have clean seed. And now that we have come up with this clean seed facility where you can get millions of plants as you can see them in bottles like this.” Said Erostus Nsubuga – Scientist.

Nsubuga told farmers who gathered at his laboratory in Mukono that this was a major breakthrough that would help increase production and lower prices of Irish potatoes. “Irish potatoes for me is a food crop, security crop and as you know is the only Irish potato you can harvest and just put there; you don’t need Cylons, you don’t put special storage facilities to put Irish there and you will eat it for almost 3 – 4 months you are eating.” Said Erostus Nsubuga – Scientist.

Irish potato farmers had for years been crying for help. “Using this kind of technology of cut tissue culture, believe me, you forget a lot of farmers who are enthusiastic in Western Uganda for example and Mbale and Zombo in the North are very enthusiastic to plant Irish potatoes. There can be a very good food income for this income as the next food crop. So we can be actually the next food hub for clean disease free Irish potato seed.” Said Erostus Nsubuga – Scientist. The blight sometimes attacks the tuber causing them to rot during rainy seasons.