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Harare Bureau
Smallholder farmers have been urged to take up potato production and help meet demand that has gone up in the past decade as the crop has gained popularity as a staple food in the Zimbabwean diet. According to the US AID Smallholder Technology and Access to Markets Programme, demand for the nutritious crop has increased and production also needs to be increased to reduce the imports of the crop.
“It is estimated that the local market is operating at 50 percent capacity, but it is difficult for new farmers to penetrate the potato market,” the report said.
The report said the cost of production for potatoes is the main reason why only a few smallholder farmers had taken up potato farming.
It costs between $4 500 and $6 500 per hectare to produce potatoes, which is out of reach for small scale farmers but the high returns offered by the crop and the short production period facilitate rapid establishment of cropping programmes and enhances farm development.
Farmers can realise between US$0,67 to US$0,80 per kg.
Demand for potatoes in Zimbabwe is high and it is expected that the consumption will increase due to the projected rise in availability.
“Traditionally, potatoes have been grown by large commercial farmers in Zimbabwe but more and more smallholder farmers are growing the crop,” the report says.
Currently, communal areas around Nyanga, Mutasa, Domboshava, Chiweshe, Wedza, Goromonzi and Mhondoro are producing significant quantities of the crop.
An estimated 900 to 1 000 hectares are under potato production every year.
According to the report, Mbare is Harare’s largest market for potatoes accounting for 33 percent of the 350 to 400 tonnes traded per week.
In 2010, the Agricultural Marketing Authority imposed a ban on imported potatoes from South Africa as local producers were failing to compete with the prices of South African potatoes. However stricter measures to enforce the ban would have resulted in serious shortages as local producers cannot yet meet the demand.
According to industry sources, Bulawayo, Victoria Falls and Hwange markets need 300 tonnes per week while Mutare needs a lower 23 tonnes per week.
However, in May this year, farmers’ unions in Zimbabwe agreed to seek funds from AgriBank to embark on a massive potato production to mitigate the effects of this season’s failed summer crop.
The Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president Mr Wonder Chabikwa is on record saying more than 500 hectares of land was expected to be put under potato production as from July, and this would be increased based on the demand.
The 2012-2013 summer cropping season saw a drastic reduction of maize yields from the annual 2,2 million metric tonnes to around 1,2 million metric tonnes.
Other food crops such as soya bean and wheat also performed badly this season.
Potatoes have proven to be an important crop component in the creation of viable cropping programmes for most farms.
There is also a national potato programme in place which aims to enhance food security, improve standards of living and national health status by making available to the nation adequate volumes of nutritious and affordable potatoes produced under sustainable production conditions by the local farmer.
The aim of the national programme is to make potatoes available to the customer at an affordable price, at the same time allowing the farmers to remain in the farming business.
Doing so will reduce costs and increase farmer profits and in the long run, resulting in improved standards of living.
The national programme is targeting to at least double potato consumption over the next 12 months.
Online Reporter