Potato Review

Small size restriction IN Japan, McDonald’s has made news for restricting purchase to only the small size of French fries. But that’s not because of a lack of potatoes. It’s because McDonald’s Japan uses fries imported from North America, which go through the Port of Vancouver. That port experienced a disastrous flood in November, which caused a huge backlog of container ships from which the supply chain is still recovering. 50 POTATO REVIEW MARCH/APRIL 2022 INTERNATIONAL Record exports seen THE volume of potato exports from Iran in 2021 increased by 16% and reached a record 855,000 tons. Six nations are among the largest markets for Iranian potatoes: Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. The rise has been attributed to an increase in the supply of potatoes to the post-Soviet states that provided Iran with a record volume of potato exports in 2021. Major importers reduced their purchases of potatoes in Iran. Afghanistan reduced imports by 17%, and Iraq more than twice. Pakistan is also increasing supplies to Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Winter potatoes in Pakistan ripened earlier than usual this season. Half Victoria crops lost in storm HALF of the potato crops in Victoria, Australia, were lost, putting chipping supplies in particular shortage. Farmers in the potato growing region just north of Ballarat in rural Victoria, Australia, claimed that a storm may have washed away nearly 50% of their crops for the season. Victorian Farmers Federation horticulture vice- president, Katherine Myers recently told news. com.au that farmers in the region may have lost approximately $25 million worth of potato product. Taskforce created THE Kenya government is set to establish a taskforce to look into the state of potato farming in the country. Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya said the taskforce, to be unveiled soon, will focus on streamlining the sector and making potato farming profitable. He a rmed government support to both farmers and other players in the potato value chain. Potato farmers from Nyandarua County, who produce more than 30% of potatoes in the country, are calling for the levelling of the playing field by imposing higher taxes on imported products. KFC faces shortage KFC in Kenya recently ran out of fries and was o ering alternatives. This attracted anger from potato farmers in Kenya, who produce more than a million tonnes of potatoes per year and who are not su ering any notable shortages this year. KFC Kenya replied that the company’s quality assurance procedure requires it to import potatoes, rather than use local ones, and most of those come from Egypt. KFC said that shipping delays in Egypt owing to COVID-19-related problems were at the root of the shortage in Kenyan KFCs.