Potato

Potatoes are one of the most important cash crops in Bhutan, for both domestic consumption and export. There is also a limited manufacturing market, mainly potato chips. Farmers need to replace their seed potatoes every few years to maintain quality and help manage for viruses. Pest and disease-free seed potatoes are therefore also an important market, including into India.

The main potato growing areas are between 2000 and 3000 m asl where they are grown during the wet season (summer), although winter cultivation is increasing at low-altitudes.

Potatoes are prone to insects and diseases. Of greatest importance are late blight and potato tuber moth which need to be carefully managed to prevent serious losses. Insecticides are rarely needed if crops are managed well, but fungicide is often required to manage late blight.

Several potato varieties are grown. These differ in their susceptibility to some pests and diseases.



Insects

Peach-potato aphid

Myzus persicae Crop: Generalist, but is only a pest of potato Why ...
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Potato tuber moth (PTM)

Phthorimaea operculella Crop: Potato Why is it a problem? PTM is the ...
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Red ant

Dorylus orientalis Crop: Generalist, but can seriously damage vegetable crops including potato ...
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White grub

Phyllophyga sp. Crop: Potato Why is it a problem? Feeding by the ...
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Diseases

Early blight

Alternaria solani Crop: Potato. It has also been reported on tomato Why ...
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Late blight

Phytophthora infestans Crops:Potato and Tomato Why is it a problem? Late blight ...
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Potato viruses

Potato Leaf Roll Virus (PLRV) and Mosaic Viruses (PVX and PVY) Crop: ...
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Vertebrate Pests (Wildlife)

Wild boars

Sus scrofa Crops: All crops, but especially maize, rice and potato Why ...
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Weeds

Weeds in potato

Why is it a problem? Potato is one of the main cash ...
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Additional Resources

  1. Potato varieties in Bhutan
  2. Pictorial guide to Pest and Diseases of Rice, Maize and Potato

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