Twelve varieties of potato in Sankltu and Mulpani and 6 varieties in Panchkhal were found
cultivated in the intellSive potato cultivated areas of Kathmandu valley. Potato cultivars,
Cardinal, Desiree, Kufri Jyoti and NPI /06 were common varieties to all localities. Cardinal
was the most preferred variety. Potato tuber moth (PTM), both in the standing crop and in the
storage was the most imponant biotic factor depleting the harvest. Synthetic chemical pesticides
like methyl parathion, de/tamethrin, dich/orvos, and dimethoate were used as foliar spray on the
standing crop. To mitigate PTM in the stored potatoes either shade dried botanicals like
Animesia mtd China berry or synthetic chemical insecticides like methyl parathion or
dimethoate or dichlorvos or malathion dust were used. Pesticide management of PTM and
diseases in potato crop involved an expr;nse of as low as 0.5% of the cultivated cost (Mulpani)
to as high as 15% (Sankhu and Panchkhal) of the total cost of cultivation. The farmers preferred
red skinned PTM resistant varieties.

Twelve varieties of potato in Sankltu and Mulpani and 6 varieties in Panchkhal were found
cultivated in the intellSive potato cultivated areas of Kathmandu valley. Potato cultivars,
Cardinal, Desiree, Kufri Jyoti and NPI /06 were common varieties to all localities. Cardinal
was the most preferred variety. Potato tuber moth (PTM), both in the standing crop and in the
storage was the most imponant biotic factor depleting the harvest. Synthetic chemical pesticides
like methyl parathion, de/tamethrin, dich/orvos, and dimethoate were used as foliar spray on the
standing crop. To mitigate PTM in the stored potatoes either shade dried botanicals like
Animesia mtd China berry or synthetic chemical insecticides like methyl parathion or
dimethoate or dichlorvos or malathion dust were used. Pesticide management of PTM and
diseases in potato crop involved an expr;nse of as low as 0.5% of the cultivated cost (Mulpani)
to as high as 15% (Sankhu and Panchkhal) of the total cost of cultivation. The farmers preferred
red skinned PTM resistant varieties.