African group hears about U.S. seed potatoes

African group hears about U.S. seed potatoes

Farm and Ranch Report January 26, 2011 Potatoes are a bigger crop in Africa than most people may realize. And according to John Toaspern of the U.S Potato Board, for the most part the seed African growers use is just left over potatoes.

There currently are no commercial sales of U.S. seed potatoes into Africa

though the U.S. Potato Board has initiated some variety trials with funding from the USDA. And when the African Potato Association Conference invited the Potato Board to speak at their meeting last month, Toaspern went.

Toaspern: “And I spoke to this group about the successes the U.S. Potato Board has had with U.S. seed potatoes in the Dominican Republic and the application of those successes to the import of U.S. seed potatoes into Africa and the benefits we think that would incur to the African potato growers.”

Toaspern says the response to his presentation was positive particularly among growers even though U.S. potato seed would cost more than what the Africans are using now.

Toaspern: “What occurs is that the yields are so low from those type of seed potatoes that increased cost of importing U.S. seed potatoes is more than overcome by the much higher yields.”

Toaspern says Africa represents a substantial opportunity for U.S. seed potato growers but emphasizes that getting in that market will be a very, very long term effort. The effort though is now underway.

That’s the U.S. Potato Update. Brought to you by the United States Potato Board, maximizing return on grower investment. I’m Bob Hoff for Northwest Aginfo Net.

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