Potato News from Asia

December 06, 2011

Improving incomes and nutritional health in Bangladesh through potato, sweetpotato, and vegetables

Poverty affects 40 percent of people in Bangladesh, and malnutrition is among the highest in the world, with 56 percent of preschoolers underweight. In an effort to combat these alarming numbers, the International Potato Center (CIP) is launching a ne...

December 04, 2011

Mediation in potato packing dispute Cyprus

The dispute between workers at the potato packaging factory in Vryssoules and their employers will be discussed at the Labour Ministry on Monday. The two sides met at the ministry yesterday and relayed their views to the mediation service. The ministr...

December 03, 2011

Punjab potato growers seek govt's help as potato prices crash

As potato prices hit unexpected low levels in Punjab, growers have asked the state government to offer freight subsidy for marketing the tuber to other states in order to prevent mounting losses. Growers also warned of throwing potato on roads if state...

December 02, 2011

Vikas Mittal joins McCain Foods India as Managing Director

Former dabur India head of innovation Vikas Mittal has joined McCain Foods India as its MD. Mittal was head of innovation at Dabur in July 2011, prior to which he was executive VP (marketing) for the personal &home care division. Mittal has also w...

November 30, 2011

Potato packers in Cyprus on strike over plans for cheap labour

Approximately 100 Greek-Cypriot potato packers in Vrysoulles went on strike yesterday against their employer’s intention to sack them and replacing them with EU community workers from Eastern Europe. The strike was organised by workers’ unions SEK and...

November 28, 2011

Calbee introduces new coffee flavoured potato chips in Japan

Calbee Paripari Variation My Potato, Mocha Cocoa Potato Chips, a new coffee flavoured potato chip in Japan, was selected by Datamonitor as the innovation of the week. "Bitter and sweet"are the words used to describe the new limited edition ...

November 25, 2011

India opens door to foreign supermarket chains

India threw open its $450 billion retail market to global supermarket giants on Thursday, approving its biggest reform in years that may boost sorely needed investment in Asia's third-largest economy.

November 23, 2011

Yum! Brands restaurants in India become separate division

Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) today announced it has reorganized its Yum! Restaurants International division (YRI) to continue to drive aggressive international expansion and build strong brands globally. The Company also announced that Micky Pant, 57,...

November 16, 2011

New French fry line at Dogaseed successfully installed

Doga Seed and BMA successfully completed the installation of a new 3000 kg/h french fries production line in Nevsehir, Turkey.

November 16, 2011

Lebanese Agricultural Minister blasts merchants for exporting spoiled potatoes

Agriculture Minister Hussein Hajj Hasan (Lebanon) accused some merchants of exporting spoiled potatoes, warning he would not hesitate to reveal the names behind the shipment of such agricultural produce if they continue they behavioral pattern. Waving...

November 12, 2011

McCain Foods India Welcomes Canadian Officials

Management at McCain Foods manufacturing facility in Mehsana hosted senior Canadian government officials who were on a recent trade mission to India to strengthen and advance bilateral trade between the two countries. Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of I...

November 09, 2011

Productores chinos de patatas amplían exportaciones para reducir exceso de existencias

Los cultivadores de patatas de la septentrional región autónoma china de Mongolia Interior están solucionando su problema de exceso de existencias vendiendo parte de su producción a compradores extranjeros. Las autoridades agrícolas de la bandera (dis...

November 08, 2011

Myanmar to import potato from Bangladesh

Myanmar has shown interest to import potato from Bangladesh because of the low price of the item here, said the commerce minister yesterday. Faruk Khan said Bangladesh will export a total of one lakh tonnes of potato to that country primarily. The mi...

November 05, 2011

Low prices may cut Rabi (winter) potato acreage by 15 to 20 per cent

Potato acreage in India is likely to drop by 15-20% in the new (winter) season. Farmers suffered last year due to a decline in prices following a higher production. According to an initial estimate, the losses could run into few thousand crores with Be...

November 05, 2011

Bhutan potato farmers have trouble transporting their potatoes

In Bhutan, potato farmers have seen the price of potato transport double and have no options but to take it. While the yield is good this year, farmers supplying potatoes from the six eastern dzongkhags to the auction yard in Samdrupjongkhar say tran...

November 02, 2011

Indian Packaging industry forecast to rise

The Indian packaging industry is set to rise by 15% every year due to growing consumption and demand for packaged products across the country, states the Indian Institute of Packaging in Hyderabad (IIP-H). The $13.5bn industry is expected to reach $18...

October 31, 2011

United Arab Emirates turn to potatoes for food security

Abu Dhabi is planning to increase the production of potatoes as part of food security measures. This is in view of the fact that the storage life of potatoes can last as long as six to eight months and hence protect the country against possible food sh...

October 28, 2011

Sharp price drop potatoes and potato starch results in profit warning China Essence Group

Potato starch manufacturer China Essence Group Ltd issued a profit warning for Q2 FY2012 and H1 FY2012, saying the company expects a loss in these periods due to "unexpected sharp movements in the prices of potatoes and potato starch".