Potato News from Africa

Potato farmers set to benefit from mobile data sharing app.

January 23, 2022

Potato farmers in South Africa set to benefit from mobile data sharing app

The potato industry in South Africa is investing in various technologies to improve its sustainability and is in the process of developing a mobile app to improve communication with members.

Egypt imported 131 thousand tons of seed potato and 25 thousand tons of frozen french fries and potato chips

January 18, 2022

Egypt imported 131 thousand tons of seed potato and 25 thousand tons of potato products (French Fries and Chips)

Sources revealed to Al-Mal that 131 thousand tons of potato seeds arrived from European facilities approved for import from last October until early January, for 76 approved varieties.

January 12, 2022

Using drones to select drought-tolerant Sweet potatoes

Droughts have long posed a threat to farmers in southern Africa, and models predict they will become more frequent, unpredictable, and intense as global warming continues.

CSIR-SARI introduces new varieties of Frafra potato to farmers in Talensi and Nabdam

December 18, 2021

CSIR-SARI introduces new varieties of Frafra potato to farmers in Northern Ghana

The Savannah Agriculture Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research [CSIR – SARI] has introduced new varieties of the ‘Frafra’ potato crop to farmers in the Talensi and Nabdam districts of the Upper East Region.

November 23, 2021

Nigeria wants to be among the top three potato producers in the world by 2025

Mustapha Baba Shehuri, minister of state for agriculture and rural development, says Nigeria will be among the world’s top three potato producing countries by 2025.

November 16, 2021

Middlemen plunge Rwanda potato farmers into losses

Potato farmers in Rwanda are counting their losses, claiming that they are selling their produce at 'giveaway' prices, despite the cost remaining high on the market.

September 23, 2021

Monitoring improves potato tuber moth control

Potato tuber moth can be a potato producer’s nightmare. Fortunately, InteliGro’s extremely effective monitoring system not only help to control this pest successfully but allows producers to manage risks and reduce input costs over time.

Farmer in Zimbabwe sues local potato chip manufacturer Cairns Foods over defective seed potatoes

September 19, 2021

Farmer in Zimbabwe sues local potato chip manufacturer Cairns Foods over defective potato seed

Patrick Makuzwa has approached the High Court seeking an order canceling his contract with Cairns Foods and for the food company to compensate him to the value of USD 46 789 50.

Rwandan farmers help validate and disseminate new potato varieties

August 02, 2021

Potato Farmers in Rwanda help validate and disseminate new varieties

The triadic comparisons of technologies – or tricot – approach is being used in a citizen-science project funded by the CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB) to identify and scale up best cassava and potato varieties in Rwanda.

July 28, 2021

Expiration of anti-dumping tariffs on fries leaves South African potato industry vulnerable

Anti-dumping tariffs on frozen French fries imported from the Netherlands and Germany have expired, leaving the South African potato industry vulnerable to ‘dumping’.

July 04, 2021

AKILIMO digital platform improves potato yields in Rwanda

CIP and RAB are focusing their efforts in this area to release varieties that are high-yielding, pest and disease resistant, and climate-resilient.  But is this enough to overcome the low potato yields faced by Rwandan farmers?

June 24, 2021

Zimbabwe: Matabeleland South Potato Producer Laments Lockdown Induced Losses

The prolonged Covid-19 lockdown has brought more harm to potato production that any other crop being produced in Zimbabwe at the Agricultural Rural Development Authority (ARDA) Trek Antelope Estate in Maphisa, Matabeleland South.

June 23, 2021

Re-educating Nigerian Potato growers: from farming as a culture to farming as a business

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) has commenced training for Irish potato farmers in Kano. The training which began on Monday, June 21, will end on Friday, June 25, 2021.

June 22, 2021

Sudan: Two Projects Promoting Potato Production to Be Implemented

Potato cultivation has seen tremendous success in Sudan when productivity in some areas reached 28 tons an acre, like in the Alarqam Project of Western Omdurman here. The Meroe Dam Project (in Northern Sudan) has produced 20 tons per acre.

June 21, 2021

Catalyzing a greater supply of seed potato in Kenya

As a food security crop and cash crop, potato is a source of income for farmers, traders and sellers. In Kenya alone, potato creates employment for 2.5 million people along the value chain amounting to an estimated annual worth of USD 480 million.

June 21, 2021

Kenya: Potato imports by fast-food firms to attract 30pc duty

Major fast-food joints rely on imports from as far as Egypt and South Africa for the potatoes they use for French fries.

June 02, 2021

Kenya: Nyandarua cops impound eight lorries over defying potato regulation (too large bags)

Police in Nyandarua county have intercepted eight lorries carrying potatoes in extended bags contrary to the Crops (Irish Potatoes) Regulations 2019.

May 03, 2021

Malawi: Tobacco losing ground to potatoes

For decades, tobacco has been Malawi’s main foreign exchange earner. However, when he opened this year’s tobacco marketing season on Tuesday, president Lazarus Chakwera stunned his audience saying this industry is dying.

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