Bacterial wilt (Pseudomonas solanacearum) is one of the most problematic diseases of potato in the hills of Nepal. It is spreading through traditional seed flow systems favoured by the present socio-cultural and policy environments. This is compromising food security and the livelihoods of hill people. In 1993, an effort was initiated by Lumle Agricultural Research Centre in partnership with User's Perspective with Agricultural Research and Development (UPWARD), Philippines, to manage the disease in the traditional upland potato growing areas of the Western Hills with community participation. After seven years, the approach is yet to achieve its full success largely due to exogenous factors. This paper describes the policy, socio-cultural, and technical constraints. The paper stresses the importance of bringing all stakeholders together to develop common understanding and a vision of future commitments. The success of the programme depends on restricting the free movement of infected seed potatoes through sanctions and political will; ensuring researchers' accountability; increasing public awareness; empowerment of local committees; and the availability of appropriate technology to supply pathogen free/healthy seed. The approach requires considerable resources, effort and time to maintain momentum. Before scaling up, the approach needs to be modified to reduce the limitations encountered over the past years, and to make it less resource-intensive and more locally-manageable.

Bacterial wilt (Pseudomonas solanacearum) is one of the most problematic diseases of potato in the hills of Nepal. It is spreading through traditional seed flow systems favoured by the present socio-cultural and policy environments. This is compromising food security and the livelihoods of hill people. In 1993, an effort was initiated by Lumle Agricultural Research Centre in partnership with User's Perspective with Agricultural Research and Development (UPWARD), Philippines, to manage the disease in the traditional upland potato growing areas of the Western Hills with community participation. After seven years, the approach is yet to achieve its full success largely due to exogenous factors. This paper describes the policy, socio-cultural, and technical constraints. The paper stresses the importance of bringing all stakeholders together to develop common understanding and a vision of future commitments. The success of the programme depends on restricting the free movement of infected seed potatoes through sanctions and political will; ensuring researchers' accountability; increasing public awareness; empowerment of local committees; and the availability of appropriate technology to supply pathogen free/healthy seed. The approach requires considerable resources, effort and time to maintain momentum. Before scaling up, the approach needs to be modified to reduce the limitations encountered over the past years, and to make it less resource-intensive and more locally-manageable.