Sri Lanka takes measures to increase potato cultivation

In Sri Lanka, the Seetha Eliya Agriculture Research Station has taken measures to increase the local potato seed production to increase the local potato crop, said research officer in charge M.M. Nugaliyadda.

She said that most farmers refuse to cultivate potatoes due to the lack of quality seeds. "The cost of production is another problem farmers face. If local seeds are available, it will help them to reduce the cost of production too. Farmers have to spend a lot of money to purchase imported seed potatoes,"she said.

"New technologies have been introduced to the farmers by the Seetha Eliya Agriculture Research Station to produce high quality seed potatoes, Nugaliyadda said.

According to the Senses and Statistics Department the total national potato production in 2009/ 2010 was 51,294 metric tons and the extent was 3,784 hectares.

Potato production in 2008/2009 was 60,840 metric tons and the extent was 4,017 cultivated hectares.

The Agriculture Ministry has taken measures to encourage farmers to cultivate potatoes with the support of private sector institutions, an Agriculture Ministry official said.