Mbeya to have 10bn/- Irish potato centre

According to the Project Manager, Frank Wijnands, the construction work of the 8.8bn/- (4.0 million US dollars) project is co-financed by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and a group of nine companies that are active in the potato industry.

The Irish potato centre is expected to support every phase of the potato value chain from production and storage to processing to marketing. Mr Wijnands, of Wageningen University & Research, said some of the companies are seed-potato growers whilst others supply cool stores or crop protection.

“This is an example of the new Dutch approach: business development instead of aid,” he said, adding that “this is a win-win situation. The companies, that are the ‘founding fathers’ of the centre, stand a better chance of entering the Tanzanian market.”

Jan-Willem Sepers of Europlant, one of the co-investors in the centre, praised Tanzania as a politically stable country, saying some of the areas are very suitable for potatoes.

Tanzanian farmers often harvest between 7.0 and 8.0 tonnes per hectare, well be low the 30 tonnes that could be reached with high-quality seed-potatoes and improved farming techniques.

The Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary, Mr Mathew Mtigumwe, said the centre will have great impact on research and training. “With this great initiative, the potato business can finally take off,” Mr Mtigumwe said.

The Netherlands is presumed to be the world leader in the potato sector, with Dutch seed potatoes accounting for 60 per cent of worldwide potato production. While over 500 different varieties of potato are grown in The Netherlands, in Tanzania only four varieties are used.

The centre agreement was signed in The Hague last month by representatives of the Tanzanian and Dutch governments. Tanzania was represented by Ambassador Irene Kasyanju, the Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary, Mr Mathew Mtigumwe and the SAGCOT Chief Executive Officer, Mr GeofExecutive Officer, Mr GeofExecutive Officer, Mr Geof frey Kirenga.

SOURCE: DAILY NEWS

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