Sri Lankan potato producers pleased with US cultivars

The United States Potato Board (USPB) Team Seed conducted a market visit to farms and growing regions in Sri Lanka during May 2010. Sri Lankan producers growing US varieties are unanimous in their approval of cultivars and selections sourced from the US seed potato industry.

There is a market for US seed in September/October. The Sri Lankan Department of Agriculture is interested in allowing 75 mm (nearly 3 inches) maximum diameter seed to enter the country on a trial basis. The Department of Agriculture also appears ready to make changes in virus levels and seed class as requested by USDA/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

USDA/APHIS Attaché Marc Gilkey, US Embassy Commercial Specialist Adrian Mendis and USPB Team Seed visited Sri Lankan producers growing US seed potatoes in Nuwara Eliya and Rahangala Badula with Sri Lankan US Seed Importer Ananda Weerisuriya. Garden size plots are very popular in Nuwara Eliya and producers are paid well.

H.P.B. Nanayakkara planted his 1 acre field with potatoes adjacent to the Grand Hotel in Nuwara Eliya. This was his first year planting US seed, and he is very happy with the health and vigor when compared with seed sourced from other countries. Another producer, H.P.N. Monagelheeru shares this assessment, stating his strong preference for US seed saying it had more vigor, and he is expecting higher yields when the potatoes are harvested.

At the 350 acre Ambewela Farms, Agronomist Sarath Bandara paid a high compliment saying US seed is truly good seed. He recalled seed from another country supplier that had only 85 percent emergence, while his US seed achieved field emergence of 95 percent. Other producers also noted how US seed has a higher germination rate compared with seed from other countries.

USPB consultant, Peter Joyce gave a presentation about the benefits of US seed potatoes. This event was attended by over 50 agronomists and growers who represented the largest growers in the district. The event was organized by Weerasuriya and the presentation was translated by an agronomist with the Sri Lanka Department of Agriculture.