Southeast Asian program for potato research and development

This program is one of six networks initiated by the International Potato Center (CIP) to promote R and D activities on potato and sweetpotato. It was established in 1981 through an agreement signed by six participating countries (Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia) and the representatives of the Australian government and CIP. Prior to this phase there were two phases (1982-1986 and 1987-1991) under AIDAB management. Responsibility shifted to ACIAR in 1992. SAPPRAD aims 1) to promote the use of potato in member countries of Southeast Asia by: sharing member countries in planned integrated research and development of the crop;building competence in potato R and D in individual scientists and institutions within the region; exchange of technology within the region and with other similar regions, 2) to work towards self-sufficiency in potato R and D, both as a region and within member countries.

The SAPPRAD project was reviewed at the end of 1994, from which the following coments were made: SAPPRAD has managed to develop the national research systems for potato and sweetpotato in the six original member countries. It has been very effective in improving potato and sweetpotato R & D in the cooperating countries. All countries now have access to the technologies and infrastrutures needed to become self-sufficient in potato and sweet potato seed production. Despite this success, none of the countries has become self-sufficient in potato seed production and still rely heavily on introducitons. Progress has been made in improving the sustainability of potato production in highland areas and extending potato production to mid-elevation lowland areas. Less progress has been made on developing low elevation lowland potatoes except in areas dominated by maritime derived sands. Over the years SAPPRAD has develop a more regional dimension towards the diagnosis, analysis and synthesis of problems and prospects has become more and more the region, rather than each individual country. The committee recommended that support for the network activities of SAPPRAD was justified for a further 3 -5 years but following that period SAPPRAD should seek to become an autonomous self-funding network. In 1996 it extended its interactions to include China and Vietnam and reorganised themselves into the new Asian Sweetpotato and Potato Research and Development (ASPRAD) network. ACIAR ceased funding SAPPRAD at the end of 1996.