Potato Variety Research
Takes Place In Abangares
(Infocom) — As part
celebrations on the
occasion of the
International Potato
Year, Agriculture
Minister Javier Flores
Galarza, in coordination
with experts from the
National Agricultural
Research and Technology
Transfer Institute (INTA),
recently unveiled three
new promising potato
clones at the Carlos
Duran Experimental
Station in Potrero
Cerrado, Cartago (on the
slopes of the Irazu
Volcano).
As part of this research
effort, it is expected
that the clones will
soon be released and,
once the seed
reproduces, will be
given to growers for
cultivation.
According to Carlos
Alfaro Rodriguez,
manager of the Ministry
of Agriculture’s (MAG)
Potato Program, these
new varieties have a
very high cooking
quality and excellent
flavor, plus their flesh
is yellow — a color
preferred by homemakers
to prepare mashed
potatoes and picadillos
(diced potato dishes).
Jeanette Aviles Chavez,
who runs the Carlos
Duran station, explained
that this project lasted
more than four years,
with experimental
plantings established in
various potato-growing
regions of the country,
such as Zarcero
(Northern Zone), Cartago
(at medium and high
altitude), and Abangares
(Guanacaste). In all of
these places, regardless
of the local climates,
the varieties yielded
excellent results.
“I believe it’s
important that people
begin to rate potatoes
not only for their
smooth skin, but that
they consider the
quality and flavor
inside,” Aviles said.
“These varieties provide
a better yield with less
use of agrochemicals,
and that’s why they are
a very promising option
for organic producers.”
Minister Flores
underscored that these
new clones are the
result of the vigorous
technical exchange that
goes on between MAG,
INTA and the
International Potato
Center. He added that
these varieties will
play an important role
in the government’s
National Food Plan,
because their tolerance
to pests and diseases
helps farmers reduce
their production costs,
yielding higher income
in the process.
The head of MAG also
said that the release of
the varieties will take
place during the first
few months of 2009, once
the requirements
established by the
National Seeds Office
are met.
“In Costa Rica, there
are more than 100 potato
varieties that can be
grown, but only six are
properly registered and
exploited commercially,”
Flores said. “Nearly
1,000 small growers make
a living from growing
potatoes, and Costa
Ricans eat about 11
kilos of potatoes per
capita.”
The ceremony in Potrero
Cerrado was also
attended by Martín
Callisaya, the Bolivian
ambassador to San Jose;
Alberto Gutierrez, the
Peruvian ambassador
here; and Alan Bojanic,
representative of the
U.N. Food and
Agriculture Organization
(FAO) to Costa Rica.
Also present were
conventional and organic
potato growers from
throughout the country. |
