Launching of potato harvest 2022 at La Laura, St Pierre by the Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Honourable Leela Devi Dookhun-Luchoomun and the Attorney General and Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Honourable Maneesh Gobin on Tuesday 09th August 2022
Potato being a strategic crop, our annual consumption turns around 25,000 tonnes. For the past five years, our production averaged 15,000 tonnes annually.
For the Potato Crop Season 2022, 1800 tonnes of seed have been released by the Agricultural Marketing Board. For the first potato season 2022, as at end of June, a total acreage of 80ha has been recorded. The main growing areas are Glen Park, La Marie, Plaine Sophie, Mare Longue, Boulingrin, Robinson, Crève Coeur, Belle Vue Mauricia, La Laura, Malenga, Rivière Baptiste, Côte d’Or, Camp Diable and Riche Bois.
Rightly in the region of La Laura-Malenga, 25 growers are currently involved in potato production over an acreage of 22 ha.
On Tuesday 09th August 2022, the Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Honourable Leela Devi Dookhun-Luchoomun and the Attorney General and Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Honourable Maneesh Gobin proceeded with the official launching of the Potato Harvest 2022. Harvest was carried out in the field of Mr Chairtmee Coomaren, a regular potato grower who has cultivated potato over 1A at La Laura and 4A at L’Avenir, mainly variety “Spunta” and to a lesser extent varieties “Everest” and “Vigora”.
The Parliamentary Private Secretary, Honourable Nand Prakash Ramchurrun and other personalities were also present for the event.
The Minister Maneesh Gobin stated that the potato crop season 2022 looks to be promising with a projected production of 16,000 tonnes island wide. He stressed that the Government is committed to provide its support to local producers and agro-processors who are the pillars towards ensuring food security.
In this context, a number of measures have been announced in the Budget 2022-2023 to provide support to the community of potato growers namely, the maintenance of the potato boost-up scheme to assist planters in purchasing seed potatoes and an increase in subsidy on the price of potato seeds from 50% to 75%. The Minister observed that these measures have not only provided support to our potato producers but have also boosted the local production.
The Honourable Minister Maneesh Gobin highlighted that the Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (FAREI) has carried out research on production of new potato clones that have been found to be encouraging both in yield and tolerance to diseases.
During his visit, the Minister also took note of the grievances of planters who are called to face various challenges in the wake of climate change, pandemic outbreak and availability of resources. He stated that the ministry and relevant authorities will do their best to address the above issues.
The Vice-Prime Minister Leela Devi Dookhun-Luchoomun observed that the potato production season 2022 appears to be promising not only in terms of yield but in quality as well. She expressed her satisfaction over the fact that people are becoming increasingly conscious to consume local produce.
