Mozambique plans to stop importing seed potatoes by 2013

Mozambique’s Agricultural Development Fund (FDA) plans to make efforts to store seed potatoes as the government has set a target to stop importing the product by 2013, the Fund’s chairman said. Speaking to Mozambican daily newspaper Notícias, Setina Titosse said that focusing on storage was important as the product is harvested between August and October, but only planted in March or April.

As part of the re-launch of the potato crop in 2005 and following a constant increase in production the FDA provided funding to seed company Sementes de Moçambique (Semoc) to buy four refrigeration units costing 14 million meticals and to set them up at the company’s headquarters in Chimoio. “By providing see, as of the 2010/2011 season we will annually produce around 190,000 tons, as compared to consumption of 277,000,” said Setina Titosse.

As well as investing in the acquisition of machinery to process between 40 and 60 tons of potatoes daily, as compared to 14 tons previously, Semoc also has a refrigeration system made up of eight units, four of which were funded by the FDA, with capacity for 200 tons each, if stored in bulk.

Source: macauhub.com.mo