Centre urges farmers to use new Irish potato seed
The International Potato Centre (CPI) has urged farmers in the country to embrace the use of new improved Irish potato seed which the centre has developed in collaboration with Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development.
The call was made by CPI market chain development officer Eliya Kapalasa in Ntcheu on Friday during the annual general meeting of Nankungwi Cooperative which is a beneficiary of the centre’s Potato Phase Two project.
Kapalasa said CPI has released six Irish seed varieties which were introduced by the centre in 2006 and were later evaluated from 2007 to 2011 for high tuber yield, resistance to late blight disease, cooking and processing qualities.
“What we are doing is that we have taken these six varieties to the farmers so that they can multiply. The idea is to have as many as we can in terms of new varieties so that by the end of the day these new varieties should take over from the existing varieties that farmers have been growing,” he said.
The development of the new seed was done in collaboration the Department of Agricultural Research Services, Department of Agricultural Extension Services, Universal Industries Limited and Concern Universal with financial assistance from Irish aid.
He said unlike the old varieties that are prone to disease attacks, the new varieties have proven to be resistant to pests and diseases attacks.
Kapalasa said the role of his organisation is to promote the cultivation of new varieties and also assist the farmers to be linked to the markets.
According to Kapalasa, the new Irish potato varieties are not only high yielding and resistant to Late Blight, (worlds’ major potato disease) but also have very good cooking and processing qualities.
He said the new seed dissemination exercise has been taking place in target districts of Mchinji, Ntcheu, Dedza and Ntchisi, adding that the on-going exercise will go a long way to benefit farmers in the targeted potato growing communities.
Malawi has not had diverse sources of potato seed varieties except for Violet and Rosita.
One of the farmers Eliasi Kagolo who is a member of Nankungwi Cooperative hailed CPI for rendering support by providing his cooperative with the new seed which he said has increased Irish potato output in his field.
