Potatoes third-most consumed crop
Tips to successfully farm potatoes
Potatoes are a high-value crop that has seen increasing demand in different market segments in Namibia.
Potatoes are grown globally and are the third-most consumed crop after wheat and rice.According to Agribank’s technical advisor for crops and poultry, Hanks Saisai, potatoes are a high-value crop that has seen increasing demand in different market segments in Namibia.
On average, N$14 million is spent on potatoes by wholesalers, retailers and fast-food establishments every month.
“Growing potatoes can be quite a profitable venture for farmers; however, yielding a good return on investment from this crop requires a fundamental understanding of how this crop must be grown and nurtured.”
To this end, he advised that before deciding to venture into potato production, it is essential to understand the fundamental requirements of the crop, specifically its morphology and growth stages.
Climatic conditions
When considering potato production, it is important to note that potatoes grow best in deep and well-drained loamy and sandy loamy soils with a pH level between 8.0 and 7.0.
It is also essential that the soil contain organic matter that can supply the necessary nutrient reserves. Saisai said it is vital to carry out a soil analysis to determine the fertility levels of the soil to help develop a fertilisation programme for potato production.
“Another consideration is the climate conditions of the area in which one intends to grow potatoes,” said Saisai.
He said the optimum temperatures for growing potatoes range between 7 and 30 degrees Celsius.
“In temperatures that exceed 30 degrees Celsius, potatoes usually experience a slowdown of carbohydrate accumulation in the tubers, resulting in small tubers.”
Potatoes are susceptible to frost and extremely cold temperatures, so the best time to plant is from September to January and February to the end of April, Sasai advised.
“During the winter, avoid growing potatoes, as it may result in crop failure and major financial losses for a farmer.”
Growth factors
Moreover, to establish a successful potato production enterprise, the cultivation of the soil must be done correctly.
It is recommended that potatoes be planted at spacing recommendations of 75 cm between rows and 30 cm within rows, and the sowing depth of the seed potatoes must be 10 to 20 cm.
He said to prevent fungal diseases in areas where humidity is relatively high, farmers are urged to utilise the drip irrigation system, which only allocates water to the stems of the growing potato plants. Additionally, farmers must re-ridge the seed beds at least three times to cover the tubers forming on the roots and prevent the greening of the tubers.
Weed control is also essential to enable potatoes to grow without competition from unwanted plants.
Keeping notes
Furthermore, during production cycles, farmers are urged to keep production and financial records, which are all essential to evaluating the profitability of the business.
As a precaution, inexperienced farmers can always trial potato production on a small-scale operation. During this period, a beginner farmer should learn important aspects of production, note down challenges and how to overcome them, and ensure that a good insight into the crop is gained before they can scale up production.