The first official attempt to improve potato production was initiated in 1962 under a joint program between Nepal and India. During its earlier phase (1960-75), several potato farms and other infrastructures were developed. With the increased importance of potato crop in national food production, National Potato Development Program (NPDP) was incepted in 1972 at Kirtipur, Kathmandu with a nationwide mandate to conduct potato research and development activities. Two potato farms, one at Jaubari, Ilam and another at Nigale, Sindhupalchowk, were established during 1980s. In 1974, NPDP was relocated to Khumaltar and linkages were established with International Potato Center (CIP) Lima, Peru, which is still effective. During the early phase of the program, major focus was on seed potato production through contract system with the farmers. Later on in 1989, a tissue culture laboratory was established with the financial and technical support of Swiss government and the contract growers were encouraged to form a cohesive group for informal production of high quality seed. Source seed as pre-basic seed is to date being supplied by the tissue culture laboratory. In the beginning the main priority of the programme was introduction, multiplication and distribution of high yielding varieties to increase production and productivity. As a result, area covered by potato and its production was increased notably, however, due to lack of quality seed production scheme in the country, seed borne diseases like bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) were disseminated to many potato growing areas (Bhomi 1996). Viruses were also considered as one of the major threats to degenerate seed quality therefore the tissue culture lab with glasshouse facilities were established to produce virus clean tuberlets at Khumaltar, Lalitpur. The strategy of NPRP is to carry out the research activities on potato and sweet potato and support quality seed potato production program, for overall potato production improvement throughout the country.