Potato is one of the most important strategic food crops cultivated in Mauritius. The annual local potato seed production amounts to 570 tonnes while our import amount to 2000 tonnes. In an attempt to increase our local seed production, a new technique of potato seed production of locally adapted varieties using innovative efficient soilless techniques can be implemented to reduce dependency on imported seed. Besides, the availability of certified seed potato is essential for sustainable potato minitubers production that would boost-up the local potato production and increase self-sufficiency in seed potato production. The use of Rooted Apical cutting (RAC) under aeroponic system is a promising alternative technique to produce potato seed. With this innovative technique large quantities of mini-tubers (15 -20/plant) could be produced in a single generation from rooted apical cuttings using aeroponic technology as compared to the conventional field production with yield of around 5-8 tubers / plant. In this context, the existing greenhouse needs to be upgraded to control temperature, relative humidity and light. Controlled environmental condition will boost up the production of seed potato and allowed two to three growing cycles per year. RAC are clean and disease-free which are reliable.
