Potatoes need knowledge
Potatoes do very well in the tropics. Better than elsewhere, in fact. After all, they originated in the highlands of Peru. Centuries of selective breeding resulted in thousands of types of potatoes all adapted to different climates. However, most tropical countries have cooler climates where up to three harvests a year can be grown.
Upcoming middle class likes crisps
Potato cultivation offers many benefits to farmers and the wider population. Potatoes are healthier than rice as they also contain protein, fiber and vitamin C in addition to starch. In tropical areas, potatoes are currently mainly eaten by growers and their families, with only a small part traded and able to reach the population in cities.
This is unfortunate as there is considerable demand for potato. A growing and increasingly affluent middle class likes to eat crisps and French fries. Hotels, too, need to provide for this demand. As a consequence, potatoes are imported at high cost. Growers could therefore get high prices for potatoes that are especially suitable for processing into crisps and fries.
The cultivation of potatoes is more complex than it seems at first glance and good production needs a lot of know-how. There need to be a sophisticated range of potato varieties to keep diseases under control. This means that resistant varieties must be readily available for strategic deployment by growers. A government policy that regulates cultivation condition – like compulsory fallow period or prohibition on growing varieties not resistant to nematodes in a region highly affected by them – is also very important the scientist explain.
Maximize yield, minimize diseases
A good division of tasks between government and industry and the availability of fertilizers and pesticides is also essential. Finally, growers need a lot of knowledge on how to grow potatoes that are tailored to the needs of the market, free of diseases. Many tropical countries lack this foundation for a good and healthy production so production falls far short of potential. A lack of knowledge can even make entire regions unsuitable for the cultivation of potatoes.
Scientists from Wageningen UR advise governments on which policies to deploy and how to maintain them. They help seed companies get organized in a way that allows them to efficiently disseminate seed potatoes among the growers. Farmers are advised on how to minimize the likelihood of diseases and maximize yield. In addition, the scientists work closely with Dutch companies that produce top quality seed.
There are currently potato projects in Argentina, Chile, China, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Russia, Rwanda and South Africa. And there are other countries with a good potential for cultivation where the growing urban population could benefit from home-grown potatoes.
