China-Bred High Starch Potatoes Favored in Kazakhstan

A China-bred variety of high starch potatoes is gaining popularity in Kazakhstan, where poor resistance to disease and pests have undermined yield of the local staple food, writes Xinhaua Net.

The potato variety grown in Kazakhstan dubbed “Xisen 6”, yields nearly 5,000 kg per mu (about 0.067 hectares), more than twice as much as the local verities. It was introduced by Xisen Potato Industry Group Co. Ltd. – a high-tech agricultural enterprise with annual export of potato seeds standing at 150,000 tones – in east China’s Shandong province.

In 2017, Xisen cooperated with an agrarian technical university in Kazakhstan to jointly develop new potato varieties and promote effective technology.

According to the report, fresh vegetables from China has been more and more favored by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization countries including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.