Consultant (ARC Technician)

International Potato Center (CIP)

potatoes and sweet potatoes

‘Developing local Seed Potato Production System in West Bengal’

Mohit Nagar, West Bengal

• Plant Material Preparation and Maintenance
• Maintain polyhouse, screenhouse, sprayer, trays, sharp cutting items in optimal working condition
• Prepare and maintain healthy mother plants for apical cutting production.
• Regularly prune and manage plants to ensure optimal shoot growth for cuttings.
• Monitor environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, light) in the propagation area and take corrective action
• Optimize the mother plant management protocol.
• Cutting Preparation and Rooting
• Select and prepare apical cuttings following standardized protocols.
• Treat cuttings with rooting agents (if applicable) and plant them in appropriate substrates.
• Maintain consistent watering, humidity, and temperature to promote uniform rooting.
• Pest and Disease Management
• Inspect plants and propagation materials for pests or diseases.
• Apply integrated pest management (IPM) practices and maintain hygiene standards in the production area.
• Ensure sanitation of tools, equipment, and propagation units.
• Documentation and Inventory Control
• Ensure proper documentation of all greenhouse activities, inventory control, and database updates.
• Maintain detailed records of plant batches, rooting success rates, and distribution.
• Track supplies and request materials proactively to avoid shortages.
• Quality Control and Reporting
• Conduct regular checks to ensure uniformity and quality of rooted cuttings.
• Record growth data and report deviations or issues to supervisors.
• Participate in continuous improvement of ARC production protocols.