Shillong, May 3, 2026: Potato farming in Meghalaya is undergoing a remarkable transformation, thanks to an innovative seed technology that is empowering local farmers to produce high-quality seeds within the state and significantly reducing their long-standing dependence on external supplies.
For decades, potato growers in the hilly terrains of Meghalaya faced persistent challenges in accessing healthy seed potatoes. The state’s remote location and difficult connectivity made it reliant on degenerated seeds saved from previous harvests or supplies transported from distant seed-producing hubs in northern India. This often resulted in low yields, disease-prone crops, and limited farmer incomes. The demand for quality seeds consistently outstripped supply, further compounded by low seed replacement rates.
A game-changing solution has now emerged in the form of Apical Rooted Cuttings (ARC) technology, developed and promoted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Potato Research Institute (ICAR-CPRI). This low-cost, decentralized method allows for the rapid production of disease-free seed potatoes at the village level, making it particularly suitable for the North Eastern Hill (NEH) region’s unique agro-climatic conditions that support near year-round potato cultivation.
How ARC Technology Works
ARC involves using healthy apical shoots from tissue-cultured potato plantlets. These shoots are rooted in controlled environments such as screenhouses or net houses to produce high-quality minitubers. Farmers then multiply these minitubers in open fields to generate certified seed potatoes. Unlike traditional methods that can take six or more years to scale new varieties, ARC drastically shortens the timeline to about two years. It also ensures better survival rates and maintains seed quality by minimizing disease transmission.
The technology has been successfully piloted through collaborations involving ICAR-CPRI, the International Potato Center (CIP), and the Meghalaya Livelihoods and Access to Markets Project (Megh-LAMP). Farmers receive training on production techniques, crop management, and agronomic practices, along with essential inputs.
A Success Story from the Fields
One standout example is the Iaisanlang Farmers Group in Wahlynkien village. Selected as a demonstration site, the group established a 200 m² net house and began receiving rooted ARC cuttings of improved varieties such as Kufri Himalini, Kufri Megha, and Kufri Giriraj starting in 2022.
The results have been impressive. Survival rates of planting material rose from around 70-80% in the initial year to 80-90% subsequently. Minituber production increased from 7,000 units in 2022 to 9,000 in 2023. By the summer of 2024, the group had produced 2,670 kilograms of quality seed potatoes. This output not only meets their own requirements but also supplies surplus seeds to nearby villages and even neighboring areas.
Farmers in the group report higher productivity and better incomes, marking a shift from scarcity to self-reliance. The initiative has also highlighted the role of community-based groups, particularly in empowering women and youth as seed entrepreneurs.
Wider Implications and Future Prospects
Encouraged by this success, interest in ARC is growing across Meghalaya and the broader NEH region. ICAR certified the technology in July 2025 and has licensed it to 12 firms for large-scale commercialization, paving the way for expanded adoption.
Experts emphasize that sustained training, institutional support, and farmer-scientist collaboration are key to scaling such innovations. ARC complements other advanced methods like aeroponics while being more accessible for resource-limited settings. In a state where potato is an indigenous crop, this development promises to boost overall productivity, enhance food security, and strengthen rural livelihoods.
As more farmers embrace the technology, Meghalaya is poised to build a robust, self-sustaining potato seed system. This model offers valuable lessons for other hill regions facing similar constraints, demonstrating how targeted scientific interventions can drive agricultural self-sufficiency.
Farmers interested in adopting ARC are encouraged to connect with the state Agriculture Department, Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA), or ICAR-CPRI’s regional station in Shillong for guidance and support.
About The Author
