NEW ZEALAND-POTATO FARMING.
THE spud is no longer humble and will have a central part to play in feeding an increasing world population. That was the clear message from the seventh World Potato Congress held recently in Christchurch.
Around 550 delegates from just about every part of the world, including the potato’s Andean homeland, reflected on how widely it’s grown.
In the west the potato is usually thought of as a staple of moist, cooler climates, but they are widely grown in tropical areas of South America, Asia and Africa.
US historian Larry Zuckerman said China is the biggest grower of potatoes and India the second.
He said that today the average production in temperate areas was 30 tonnes/ha and 25 tonnes/ha in the tropics. In New Zealand the average was about 50 tonnes/ha.
Mr Zuckerman said the potato had eventually succeeded in Europe despite over 200 years of rampant class prejudice and fear.
One delegate, Jang Sangha from India, was representing Sanga Seeds, which may be the biggest grower of seed potatoes in the world.
He said the business, in the cooler hill country of Punjab, was started by his father Hardev Singh Sanga 40 years ago and now covered 2681ha.
It was started on a
couple of hectares, and had expanded on rented land because it was not possible to own big areas of land in India.
Although Punjab is a relatively cool climate for India, potatoes are grown in the winter.
"Our potato season is in the winter. They are planted in October and harvested in January. Then they are put in cold storage for six to eight months before they are sold."
Mr Sangha said he looked after the tissue culture laboratory, research and development and assisted with marketing.
He said the main potato growing areas were in the north, in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, as well as some in the south.
Potato consumption in India was only increasing slowly, and the Confederation of Potato Seed Farmers, of which Mr Sangha is secretary-general, was lobbying for increased consumption for food security and because it was an easy crop to grow.
"Indians have this big myth about potatoes being fatty. We want to get over that."
Mr Sangha’s father received an award at the congress recognising his contribution to the industry, which Jang Sangha accepted on his behalf.