"Potato production in Panama has increased in recent years," said Arnulfo Gutierrez, president of the Committee Organizing the XXVII Congress of the Latin American Potato Association.
He added that "more and more producers in different parts of the country are dedicated to this crop, taking advantage of the climate."
Gutierrez stressed that "last year, Panama's Agricultural Research Institute [IDIAP] opened a Nursery with the capacity to produce 60,000 potato seeds every quarter, which will allow them to supply the local market and export the category."
In turn, Juan Caballero, a member of the production association of the Chiriqui Highlands, said that there were about 1,000 hectares planted every year that had a of 20 to 23 tons yield, and that required an investment of about $12,000 dollars. "The amount is relative depends on whether it is a small, medium, or large scale production, and what resources are available to maintaining the hectares, the labor's capacity, adequate inputs for an increased production, and environmental factors that can affect the production," he said.
The product is mainly grown in the Highlands and the surrounding areas: such as the community of Llano Tugrí in Ngäbe Bugle, in the mountains of Santa Fe de Veraguas, and more recently, in northern Cocle.
"Ngäbe Bugle has materials from the CIP (International Potato Center) for warmer climates and lower heights," said Axel Villalobos, General Director of IDIAP.
"Cerro Punta and Boquete produce Granola potatoes, a variety of German origin that has been cultivated the most for over 40 years," said the director of IDIAP.
"Our company will soon release the potato clone that is temporarily named 392797.22. We are also currently creating other varieties," Villalobos said.
The ALAP Congress
The organizing committee stated that they expect more than 300 people would attend the event, including 12 international exhibitors from the United States, the Netherlands, Britain, Peru, Cuba, Bolivia, Chile, Mexico, Belgium, Colombia, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.
The progress and achievements on potato research in the region will be presented in the Congress through lectures and the exhibition of scientific posters of national and international researchers.
The activity will end with a picnic at the IDIAP experimental station in Cerro Punta, where the assistants will be able to see potato varieties, management, harvesting, and post harvest techniques.
Augusto Jimenez, president of the Association of Producing Community from Tierras Altas (ACPTA), expressed his satisfaction about the opportunity that the producers, private enterprise, and the state had to work on things that would benefit the people's health and life quality.
Jimenez added that "this activity is a privilege that will allow technology transfer, because we don't usually have the opportunity of having the renowned specialists that will be accompanying us in this event." "This congress is held every two years in member countries of the Latin American Potato Association. The event was held for the first time in our country in March 1987," Jimenez said.
The attendees of the Congress will be able to taste more than 20 exquisite and various dishes based on potatoes that an expert chef will prepare during the three days that the event lasts.
Source: metrolibre.com