Potato News from Africa

A CIP project in Kenya and other African nations is fostering private adoption of a three-generation seed multiplication strategy. Combined with improved knowledge and skills the project should lead to average yield increases of 20%.

Beneficiaries of the land reform programme who are producing potato seed in Nyanga (Zimbabwe) have expressed concern over high costs of production. This, the farmers say, was making it difficult for resource-poor but interested farmers to break into t...

Potatoes South Africa reported that the potato industry in South Africa had lost at least 60.000 tons of potatoes this year, largely due to flooding and frost. As a result of a history of poor harvests, chip maker Simba (Pepsico/Frito-Lay) has adopted...

Most farmers in Zimbabwe are shunning potato farming owing to lack of knowledge on the crop. Potato production has been a preserve of former commercial farmers. Seed Potato Co-operation general manager Mr Cain Manzira said his organisation had realise...

Mozambique lanzó siete nuevas variedades de papa, obtenidas por el programa de mejoramiento del Centro Internacional de la Papa (CIP), como parte de un esfuerzo por mejorar la seguridad alimentaria y mitigar la pobreza del país. Mozambique importa actu...

“The timely availability of seed of well-adapted varieties will enhance the sustainability and economics of potato production in Mozambique,” notes CIP’s Maria Andrade, breeder and seed system specialist. Mozambique released seven new potato varieties...

Plans are underway to start breeding drought resistant potato varieties to curb food shortage. Players in potato farming who were meeting at Oljoro Orok Farmers Training Centre in Nyandarua West district observed that available potato varieties are onl...

Researchers in South Africa have completed a classification system for potatoes based on the textural attributes of the most popular varieties grown and consumed in that country.

In Kenya, Potato farmers and traders are bracing for lower returns after a bumper harvest prompted a price crash, easing consumer anxiety over the rising cost of living compounded by a shortage of maize.

Egypt and Russia have agreed to resume Egyptian potato imports to Russia starting with the next season, according to Egyptian Agriculture Minister Ayman Farid Abul Hadid.

A New Brunswick potato farmer who has been detained in Lebanon for more than 40 days is being improperly held on an international criminal warrant at the request of the Algerian government, according to his lawyer Rodney Gillis.

The International Potato Center (CIP) operates a network of offices in 30 countries. Using this network, CIP.distributes (potato) plants to local farmers and adds new breeds to its library.

KFC opened its first unit in Zambia last week. The restaurant is located in Lusaka and the opening was marked by First Lady Thandiwe Banda.

Er heerst opluchting in de pootgoedhandel. De export op Noord-Afrika en Egypte is zo goed als gedaan en heeft hierdoor geen belemmeringen ondervonden in verband met de onrust in deze gebieden.

El maíz es la comida favorita en Kenia. A sus habitantes les encanta. Sin embargo, los investigadores están buscando la forma de cambiar ese hábito. Por eso el Centro Internacional de la Papa (CIP) y el Instituto de Investigación Agrícola de Kenia (KAR...

Victor Otazu, a aeroponic specialist with the International Potato Center, tends to some aeroponic potato plants in Nairobi, Kenya. Kenyans love to eat maize. It's the country's favorite food. But researchers at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institu...

A South African chain's shareholders have overwhelmingly accepted Wal-Mart's offer to buy 51 percent of their company, the chief executive said Monday, paving the way for the giant U.S.-based retailer to enter Africa.

De aardappeloogst in Algerije in 2010 groeide met 20% t.o.v. 2009. Rachid Benaissa, minister van landbouw geeft aan dat men in 2010 een volume van 3,2 miljoen bereikte.