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Ethiopia: potato cultivation great potential

Potatoes could play a much larger role in feeding the Ethiopian population in the future, reports the German website inar.de. According to estimates by the 'International Potato Centre' Ethiopia has the largest potential for the cultivation of potatoes in Africa. However, less than three percent of the smaller growers in Ethiopia have access to productive seeding material.

To change this, the Ethiopian Institute for Agricultural Research (EIAR) is now collaborating closely with Irish scientists. The goal is to obtain potato varieties that thrive well in Ethiopia, that have a high yield and are resistant against diseases like phytophthora. On the long term this will have a positive influence on the food situation. The potato has a lot of advantages: it grows faster than grain, needs less water, and especially due to its vitamin C and protein levels, it is an exceptionally valuable food.