Potato News from Asia

January 03, 2017

Potato Planting in the Indian State Gujarat at an all time high

Potato farming in the Indian state Gujarat has reached an all-time high with over 18 per cent more planting compared to last year.

January 03, 2017

Indian Government removes Minimum Export Price (MEP) of Potatoes

The government of India Tuesday removed the minimum export price (MEP) of potato, which was imposed in July, to boost shipments of the kitchen staple.

December 12, 2016

Indonesia fights against illegal potato imports

In response to protests of potato farmers, the Indonesian government pledged on Thursday to immediately stop illegal potato imports that have put local farmers at risk.

December 06, 2016

Japanese convenience store offers Hokkaido Blue Cheese flavored potato chips

For a limited time, the Lawson convenience-store chain in Japan is stocking potato chips flavored with blue cheese from Hanabatake Bokujo, a well-known dairy producer from the far north of Japan.

November 27, 2016

New: 'WET Potato Chips'! In Japan of course...

Snack food company Calbee is playing with fire by expecting people to swallow their new concept potato chips: 'Wet Potato, Moist Mild Soy Sauce Flavor.'

November 10, 2016

High Potato Prices in Mumbai are a great opportunity for Gujarat farmers.

Despite a fresh crop arriving at the wholesale market in Vashi (Mumbai area), retail prices of potatoes show no decline

November 07, 2016

Branding the 'Dolakha's Potato' raised demand, but winter drought cuts supply

Potato production in Dolakha - a district in Nepal severely affected by the 2015 earthquakes - has dropped sharply this year due to a prolonged winter drought.The drop in output has occurred when farmers in the district had been preparing to brand their products.

November 04, 2016

Mahindra HZPC Aeroponics Facility promises top quality seed potatoes for Indian farmers

MHZPC, a 60:40 JV of Mahindra Agri Solutions Limited (MASL) and HZPC, today inaugurated its modern and state-of-the-art Aeroponic facility in Mohali. The new facility will produce the best of its kind seed potatoes by using an innovative process and latest technology.

November 03, 2016

More than a million online produce shops help Chinese farmers make more profit

Farmer, Hao Jinde, sold his potatoes, over 500 kilograms of them, for 600 yuan (US$88). Instead of setting up a stall on the street, this year Hao sold them to a store belonging to an online shopping platform in his village in Jingle County, a potato growing region in north China’s Shanxi Province.

November 01, 2016

Dutch agri-food expert Jan Hak sees great potential for potato production in China

With the help of Dutch technology and the Chinese people's own hard work, it is possible to double China's potato production as proposed in the current five-year plan, thus making potato a strategic bulk necessity for the Chinese population, said Jan Hak, a Dutch agri-food expert who has been engaged in Sino-Dutch agricultural cooperation in the past decades.

October 30, 2016

As potato consumption increases, Cambodia opens first research center

With potato consumption continuing to rise in Cambodia, the Agriculture Ministry unveiled last month a USD 200,000 research center it hopes will research and develop potato varieties most suited to the country.

October 25, 2016

Halloween Fries by McDonald's Japan, what are they like?

For those who can’t get enough of pumpkin-flavored treats during Halloween, McDonald’s Japan is offering french fries covered in pumpkin and chocolate sauce.

October 22, 2016

USDA: Summer Typhoons Reduce Japanese Potato Production

Japan's largest fresh potato production region - Hokkaido - was struck by four typhoons in August of 2016. Approximately 24,000 ha of land received damaging levels of rain and flooding, including areas producing fresh potatoes.

September 27, 2016

Bad potato harvest in North Korea

It is a particularly unsuccessful year for North Korean agriculture. An inside source in North Korea has reported that torrential rains have affected the potato harvest in Unheung and Daehongdan in Ryanggang Province.

September 15, 2016

China to review anti-subsidy duties on EU potato starch

China will review anti-subsidy duties levied on potato starch imported from the EU as they are due to expire, the Ministry of Commerce announced on Wednesday.

September 15, 2016

Potato variety ‘Qingshu 9’ a success story in China and beyond

Potato breeders at the International Potato Center (CIP) strive to develop marketable, resilient varieties with resistance to viruses and late blight that can be grown in an array of environments. An example...

September 08, 2016

Häagen-Dazs brings Purple (Sweet) Potato ice cream back to Japan for a limited time

To welcome autumn this year, the luxurious ice cream brand Häagen-Dazs brings back “Murasaki Imo”, or “Purple Potato” ice cream as it was revealed to be the third most loved flavor by fans.

September 06, 2016

Potato harvest in Armenia increases to 210.000 tonnes

As of September 5, Armenian farmers had harvested 210,000 metric tons of potato - 40,000 tons more than the year before, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. The land used for potato cultivation increased this year by 771 hectares to a total of 34,077 hectares.