Potato Review

50 POTATO REVIEW MAY/JUNE 2022 INTERNATIONAL Imports suspended THE Zambian government recently suspended the importation of potatoes following calls by growers. According to Green Mbozi, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, the government decided to suspend importation until further notice following a meeting with the Zambia National Farmers Union, at which its President, Jervis Zimba, raised concerns about the market being flooded. He questioned the reasoning behind importation of potatoes when they can be produced locally and are currently in abundance. Seed o ering to Far East Russia SEED potato varieties from Belarus were to be o ered to growers in Far East Russia this year, the region’s Minister of Agriculture, Andrey Bronts, has announced. More than 17,000 hectares will be planted with potatoes in the Primorye region and the Minister said testing of Belarusian potato varieties has been underway in Primorye since 2021 In a recent interview in which he discussed food security of the region under the current sanctions and sought to provide some clarity for growers, he said: “We are actively working with the Federal Potato Research Center named after A. G. Lorch. Five main varieties of potatoes are produced by our Primorsky Research Institute of Agriculture. In addition, the Institute has selected four promising varieties of Belarusian potatoes in terms of yield and taste. In 2023, after breeding, the seeds will already be sold to farmers, personal subsidiary plots of the region.” Spiralling costs to be recognised and paid for by Irish potato packers and retailers IRISH markets remain largely unchanged at present and are reported to be subdued, especially in comparison to trade experienced during the pandemic. Energy costs remain a source for concern for potato growers with stocks in storage. This, coupled with production costs for the 2022 season, is causing many growers to reconsider their plantings. Many growers may be forced to cut back on planted acreage as a result. These spiralling costs must be recognised and paid for by potato packers and retailers. Cold spell causes delays COLD weather a ected the Eastern Mediterranean this year and crops are delayed by around two weeks in Israel and Cyprus and possibly a delay of four weeks in Sicily. In the UK, it was another di cult week for free buy of all varieties and there are reports that growers are already considering clearing stores for stockfeed rather than face ongoing costs for storage.