Tanzania signs agreement with Netherlands to boost potato production

Potato growers in Tanzania stand to benefit from a new agreement between Netherlands and Tanzania, targeting to help farmers in the country boost the tubers production as well as being provided with potential market outlets abroad.

The Netherlands Minister for Agriculture; Mr Martijn Van Dam and the Tanzania Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries William Ole Nasha, have just inked a special agreement on potato seed importation requirements as well as launching the Potato Trade Mission.

He added that the current rate of harvesting 8 tons per hectare is far less than the country's potential to reap 30 tons per hectare.

According to the Deputy Minister, Tanzania has only four varieties of potatoes; Meru, Tengeru, Ahsante and Sherekea, while the Netherlands boasts over 100 varieties and through the newly signed agreement, local growers will benefit in introducing and sourcing improved varieties.

The Netherlands, Minister for Agriculture, Mr Van dam said they intend to repeat their successful intervention as experienced in Kenya where they managed to assist farmers in the neighbouring country to boost their potato harvests for more than five times.

Source: Tanzania Daily News