Research suggests highland farmers in Panama could start growing potatoes

According to evaluations performed by the Agricultural Research Institute of Panama (IDIAP), the producers in the highland and medium regions of the province of Cocle could start producing potatoes.

The evaluations were carried out in some plots located in La Libertad Cooperative, in the Valley de Anton, and on a farm in the village of Caballero in the district of Anton. There, the IDIAP had satisfactory results for the S110, S122, and S131 potato varieties, stated Arnulfo Gutierrez.

Gutierrez, who was in charge of the project, said the species had yields exceeding 15 tons per hectare and that they were tolerant to the late blight disease, caused by the oomycete phytophthora.

Luis Lasso, a producer of vegetable from Anton, said that the agricultural entity planted 38 varieties in the first trial, which had a low production, so they performed a second trial with 28 varieties, where the aforementioned varieties had a better performance and they achieved potatoes of a good size and tolerance.

Lasso said the product was attractive and that they would begin to cultivate them for consumption and marketing.

Expert staff from the Idiap, the Ministry of Agricultural Development and producers participated in the study.