Biratnagar: Until 2019, Prashodhan Niraula from Birtamod, Jhapa, was working at the National Ayurvedic Research and Training Centre in Kirtipur, conducting research on plants and herbs.
After completing his studies in Microbiology from Tri-Chandra College and earning a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from Kathmandu University, his desire to continue his government job ended when the 2015 earthquake devastated Kathmandu.
He then left his six-year-long government job at the Ayurvedic Research and Training Centre and returned to his hometown, Birtamod. There, he began engaging in research and studies in various areas of agriculture.
During that time, he excelled in producing various plant seedlings such as potatoes and bananas using the Plant Tissue Culture method. Recognizing his achievement, the Ministry of Social Development honoured him as a “Young Scientist in Agriculture.”
After receiving the award, Niraula felt a greater sense of responsibility. He then focused specifically on producing virus-free potato seeds through plant tissue culture — and succeeded. As a result, he has become known as an agricultural scientist specializing in the production of micro-tubers (virus-free) potatoes. He is also pursuing his PhD on the same subject at Kathmandu University.
Currently, Niraula produces over Rs 5 million worth of potato seeds annually using the plant tissue culture technique. Moreover, he trains and advises farmers on how to grow healthier potatoes with minimal land and investment — teaching them about fertilizer, soil, and seed management.
In 2019, Niraula registered and launched Apex Biotech and Agroforestry Research Pvt. Ltd. on 10 kathhas of land in Khudunabari, Arjundhara-3, Jhapa, investing more than Rs 20 million. Through his company, he has proven that farmers can earn better income from small plots of land by using tissue culture technology to increase potato production.
Today, his company sells about Rs 5 million worth of potato seeds annually produced through plant tissue culture. Previously, he also produced banana saplings and vermicompost fertilizer.
According to Niraula, the seeds produced through tissue culture are virus- and disease-free, resulting in higher yields. He has already invested over Rs 20 million in his research lab and production centre. He provides farmers with high-yielding seeds at affordable prices.
He sells one potato seed at Rs 18–20. Traditionally, one kilogram of potato seed yields up to 10 kilograms of potatoes, but his research shows that one kilogram of tissue culture-derived seedling can yield up to 25 kilograms of potatoes. He is also testing hydroponic methods for growing potatoes without soil.
To expand his innovation, industrialist Surendra Golchha from Biratnagar and Vice-Chancellor Bijukumar Thapaliya of Purvanchal University have committed to invest in Niraula’s project through an Angel Investment Network. With their support, Niraula plans to invest Rs. 1 million in fencing and Rs. 4 million in seed production for the upcoming potato season.
According to him, planting third-generation seedlings poduced via tissue culture results in higher yields. One kilogram of such seed can produce at least 18 kilograms of potatoes, whereas traditional methods hardly yield 10 kilograms. Niraula said, “Our campaign is to distribute third-generation tissue-culture potato seeds to almost all potato farmers.”
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