On February 12, participants of the expedition, organized by the Potato System magazine with the support of the Potato Union and the POTATOES NEWS portal, visited National Institute of Agricultural Innovation (INIA). This excursion was organized with the support of the representative office of the August company in Peru.
The main goal of the institute is to maintain the diversity of wild varieties of potatoes and other plant species, including corn, legumes and cotton. The tasks of the scientific organization also include studying various methods of storing seeds and working with a variety of species. The Institute is open to cooperation with other research institutes and scientific centers.
Institute staff said that potatoes are one of the most common food crops in Peru, providing producers with more economic income than any other crop. The main region where cultural production is concentrated is Puno.
Potato varieties
The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (MINAGRI) of Peru recommends 41 potato varieties for cultivation with high genetic quality, high nutritional value and good yield.
These varieties are grown both in private households of citizens and in private farms.
This list of varieties includes: Poderosa, Pallayponcho, Kawsai, Serranita, Amarylis, Pallai Poncho, Roja Ayakuchona, Vankita, Shulay, Venturana, Altiplano, Antainita, Tokasina, Puka-Lliclla, Chukmarina, Kolparina. Among the new products are Kulli Papa and INIA 330.
Cully Papa has a higher content of iron and zinc compared to conventional table varieties. It is also high in antioxidants (189% more than the average of local potatoes), which help prevent cancer.
INIA 330 was developed in the Puno region. Resistant to frost and drought, has a yield of 20 to 30 tons per hectare in dry areas. Suitable for the production of potato products.
Preservation of national potato varieties
Experts from the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation and the National Institute of Agricultural Innovation are evaluating more than 3 local potato varieties as part of the National Potato Program to protect their cultural value, explore the prospects for developing new varieties based on them, and promote the economy of small farmers in the high Andes regions.
To date, MINAGRI-INIA has registered more than 750 local potato varieties, allowing them to be introduced into national and international markets.
Guide to Seed Potato Production
The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation of Peru actively promotes the Good Quality Seed Tuber Production Manual among agricultural producers - a document that describes the entire procedure for producing potato seeds of high genetic quality.
Through this guide, MINAGRI, through the National Institute of Agricultural Innovation (INIA), aims to strengthen farmers' knowledge of quality seeds; as well as promoting their use, improving production and increasing the competitiveness of crops in various markets.
The document provides information on potato varieties proposed for the conditions of specific regions; rules for soil preparation, planting, cultural work, pest control, harvesting and storage conditions.
On February 13, expedition members will visit International Potato Center (CIP)