(52) Review Article Bionature, 40(2) 2020 : 52-65 ISSN: 0970-9835 (P), 0974-4282 (O) © Bionature INDO-KENYAN COLLABORATIVE APPROACH AND POTENTIAL FOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF PLANT TISSUE CULTURE Shiv Kant Shukla 1* , Anmol S. Verma 1 , Manfred Miheso 2 and Susmita Shukla 3* 1 Biotech Consortium India Limited, New Delhi, India. 2 Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO), Njoro, Kenya. 3 Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, India. Email: shivkantbio@gmail.com, sshukla3@amity.edu Received: 15 July 2020 Accepted: 21 September 2020 Published: 10 October 2020 _________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT More than 75% of Kenyans make some part of their living from agriculture and the sector accounts for more than fourth of Kenya’s gross domestic product (GDP). Agriculture employs about 2 million people, and has been increased up to 21% of all agricultural exports. Despite of continuous population growth, agricultural productivity has gradually become stagnated in recent years. Only about 20% of Kenyan land found suitable for farming, and in these areas maximum yields have not been achieved, leaving considerable potential for increase in productivity. Quality planting material is one of the most important components for increasing the productivity. Tissue culture is proven technology to produce disease free and true to type quality planting material derived from the superior clone. It is noteworthy facts that India has demonstrated significant success in the area of commercial plant tissue culture. Government of India decided to share experience of Indian plant tissue culture to African countries and build capacity of nationals through training organized by BCIL in different modules. In spite of significant development for commercialization of plant tissue culture in Kenya, cost and quality of tissue culture plants remain major constrains in Kenya. India’s experience in implementing the quality management system might be replicated to address these constrains which will facilitate realization of potential for Kenyan plant tissue culture. Keywords: Plant tissue culture; BCIL; commercialization; constrains; QMS; NCS-TCP. BACKGROUND Kenya, an East-African nation has the largest, most diversified economy in the region. Agriculture is the backbone of the Kenyan economy and has a major role in country’s development strategy. Crop production plays an important role in Kenya's economic development as a major source of income, employment creation and saving on foreign exchange expenditure through import substitution. More than 75% of Kenyans make some part of their living in agriculture, and the sector accounts for more than a fourth of Kenya’s gross domestic product (GDP) [1]. Kenya is a prominent producer of tea and coffee, as well as the third-leading exporter of fresh produce, such as cabbages, onions and mangoes. Small farms grow corn along with potatoes, bananas, beans and peas [2]. Although, farming is the most important economic sector in Kenya, less than 8% of the land only is used for crop and feed production. Crop diseases, pests and weeds greatly reduce the potential of crop in quality and quantity. Losses due to these constraints are estimated at 40%. Efforts to increase production and reduce these losses are necessary to conserve the agriculture sector.