News
Hopes for potato farming in the Kingdom running high
After determining the best provinces in the country to grow potatoes, Cambodian scientists are now working to figure out what varieties adapt best to the local soil and will have the highest yields.
Initial tests conducted by scientists at the Potato Research Institute, a centre in the Royal University of Agriculture, suggest that Mondulkiri, Pursat and Battambang provinces have the right soil and climate conditions for growing the crop.
Song Kheang, the director of Mondulkiri’s agriculture department, said further testing is needed before proceeding to plant the crop, however.
“We are still conducting tests. We have one more round of tests before we can claim that the province is suitable for farming potatoes,” Mr Kheang said.
“After three initial testing phases, we can say the soil in the province is suitable for potatoes, but there are still some problems, so we need to keep testing,” Mr Kheang said.
He refused to go into detail regarding the nature of those problems.
“Our potatoes will sell very well in Phnom Penh. Cambodia now imports a lot of potatoes from abroad, but we will soon begin producing ourselves which means we will reduce our reliance on imports,” Mr Kheang added.
In Pursat, the results of initial testing have also been encouraging.
Lay Piseth, head of Pursat’s agricultural department, said they are now working on selecting the best varieties that can be grown in the province.
“A Korean firm has been conducting tests for farming potatoes here with positive results. We still want to carry out some more tests to determine the best varieties,” he said.
Mr Piseth acknowledged that the potatoes yielded by the tests were smaller in size than imported varieties.
Cambodia now imports more than 5,000 tonnes of potatoes every year from Thailand, Vietnam, China, Japan, Australia and the US, according to the Potato Research Institute.
Latest News
The call for abstract submission for WPC 2022 is open and authors are encouraged to submit their abstract online for consideration. Authors can submit for oral and poster presentations. Please…
The World Potato Congress Inc. (WPC) is very pleased to announce The Little Potato Company as its newest Silver Sustaining Partner. President & CEO Romain Cools stated: “The World Potato…
The World Potato Congress Inc.’s (WPC) Board of Directors is very pleased to announce Mr. Willie Jacobs as its newest International Advisor from South Africa. President & CEO Romain Cools…
The World Potato Congress Inc.’s (WPC) Board of Directors is very pleased to announce Easyfresh as its newest Silver Sustaining Partner. President & CEO Romain Cools stated: “We extend a…
The World Potato Congress Inc.’s (WPC) Board of Directors is very pleased to announce Netafim as its newest Platinum Sustaining Partner. President & CEO Romain Cools stated: “Getting Netafim on…
World Potato Congress Inc. Webinar March 31, 2021 at 09:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time – “Late Blight: 175 years of experience. What have we learned? An update.” presented by Albert…
Franz Grimme, honorary citizen of Damme (Germany) and owner of the GRIMME Group, turns 75 on 3 March this year. In 1970, at the age of 24, he joined GRIMME…
The World Potato Congress Inc.’s (WPC) Board of Directors is very pleased to announce TriCal Group as its newest Platinum Sustaining Partner. President & CEO Romain Cools stated:”TriCal Group is…
Willie Jacobs took over the leadership of Potatoes South Africa (PSA) as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) after Dr. André Jooste, who as part of his career planning, left the organization…
World Potato Congress Inc. Webinar February 18, 2021 at 09:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time – “Aeroponics for Nuclear Seed Potato Production: History, Status and Challenges” with Dr. Peter VanderZaag The…