Potato Review

52 POTATO REVIEW JULY/AUGUST 2021 INTERNATIONAL Crackdown on packaging violations POLICE in Kenya have been cracking down on growers breaching the Irish potatoes regulation Act. The Potato Regulation Act 2019 states that potatoes should be packaged in not more than 50kgs bags and local police forces have been carrying out checks on farms and transportation vehicles. Two lorries carrying potatoes in outlawed bags were intercepted in Nyandarua County along the Nyeri – Nyahururu highway recently. One vehicle was carrying 150 bags and another contained 160 extended bags, according to Ndaragwa police chief Nancy Jerobom. The regulations banned packaging of potatoes in extended bags and approved the 50kg bag. Nyandarua, Nakuru, Narok, Elgeyo Marakwet, Uasin Gishu, Meru and West Pokot counties are implementing the potato regulations in conjunction with the State Department for Crop Development, Agriculture and Food Authority, National Potato Council of Kenya and the Agricultural Council of Kenya. AFA director-general Kello Harsama said it’s important to ensure packaging in the required standard of 50Kg is adhered to and enforcement will be implemented in the entire value chain from the farm to the markets. This will be extended to 10 other potato-growing counties. Sharp price rise SOUTHAfrica is experiencing a sharp rise in potato prices after extremely cold weather conditions in the northern parts of the country aected potato harvests, according to Business Insider South Africa, with the average price for a 10kg bag of potatoes soaring 12% to R56.53. In his weekly YouTube video that tracks themarket prices for fresh produce in South Africa, Johnny Van der Merwe said coldweather hadweighed on production. “The price of potatoes increasedwhile volumes were “22% lower than the long-termaverage for this specific week,” he said. “Theweather is still impacting the production levels, especially with the colder weather to the north.” The average price for potatoes rose to R58.58, according to data from industry association Potatoes South Africa. The current price surge is a result of weaker potato harvests, particularly in the east andwest Free State as well as some parts of theNorthern Cape, all of which are themajor sources of potatoes at this time of year, according toWillie Jacobs, CEOof Potatoes SA. A combination of factors, including heavy rains at the start of the year (during their critical planting season), also contributed to lower yields. “A lot of the guys had poor crop yields. Some of the product came into themarket earlier as well, sowe’re generally seeing a lower volume that is coming through, especially out of the Eastern Free state and theWestern Free State,” he said. Willie said the short-termprice outlook is uncertain, citing possible shortfalls fromproducers in Limpopowhomainly harvest fromAugust. The speed at which potato farmers lift the products from the groundwill largely determinewhether prices remain high or drop for consumers, he said. A tale of survival POTATOES SA has shared the story of how a Limpopo Province potato farmer, Johan Holtzhausen, contracted Covid-19 while overcoming trying to overcome the challenges his business encountered as Covid-19 restrictions meant minimal movement and higher costs from operating under such conditions. When Covid-19 struck the country, Johan pulled out all the stops to protect his workforce against the pandemic. The sta of farming co-op Ortus Boerdery came from a 45 kilometres radius of the valley between Roosenekal and Steelpoort. Unfortunately, he himself became the one to contract the coronavirus and was bed-ridden for at least three days, on oxygen, fearing for his life, and self-isolated from his next of kin. Temps must be transported on a regular basis and because of social distancing, these costs doubled with two trips replacing every one and an hour added to travelling time. Another logistical aspect of last year’s lockdown was the availability and accessibility of parts and agricultural necessities such as chemicals. The movement of ocean freight was aected by the delay of vessels calling at ports and there was an increase in import expenses. “We provide seed potatoes to both seed and commercial growers. However, depending on the cultivar, it is either produced under contract or to be sold in the open market. With regards to the open market, we are solely responsible to ensure that all product produced, gets sold. Within the Covid climate, where the impact of change is rapid, this can be a risky position in the market,” he said. “At this stage, the cultivars we produce are processing varieties that are grown on a contract basis. As a result, we fell back on contract production work to guarantee we remain sustainable.” The potato industry in South Africa has 16 production regions that go to market at dierent times of the year. For the Eastern andWestern Free State, marketing season commences in February. These regions marketed potatoes under extremely strained conditions in 2020. National fresh produce markets remain the biggest seller of fresh produce in South Africa, however, with Covid-19, 20% of stock trading occurred more directly. Producers have been competing for alternative marketing avenues and secure distribution points. Moreover, it has fundamentally altered supply chain dynamics, according to Johan. Apart from above-average rainfall and the pandemic’s impact Eskom’s rising electricity taris also had to be included into cost calculations. “We remain resilient and believe that whatever challenges come our way also present us with new opportunities. When our permanent workers were asked at the beginning of the outbreak if they wanted to go home, they all, to the last man, preferred to stay on and see this thing through. It takes tremendous courage and conviction in one’s commitment to the task at hand. Working with such people is one of the reasons I love being a potato farmer.”