Five climate- and disease-resistant potato varieties developed by the James Hutton Institute's Quikgro research project in Scotland have been approved for cultivation in Malawi by the country's Department of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Resources. The Agropages edition writes about this on December 27.
The new varieties Chikoka, Chitute, Khutula, Phindu and Tinyadile are high yielding, quick to cook, optimal tuber size and shape, texture and taste, and flesh color. Some are suitable for crispy potatoes, while others are suitable for boiling or frying. The varieties ripen early, are resistant to late blight, viruses and bacterial wilting, which allows avoiding the use of agrochemicals and getting an environmentally friendly harvest.
“We hope that the new varieties will contribute to economic development and food security in Malawi and beyond, and we are very grateful to our project partners and sponsors for their continued support. The next steps are to reach out to farmers and other stakeholders across the country to educate them about the availability and benefits of growing new varieties, ”said Professor Leslie Torrance, director of science at the James Hutton Institute.
The partners for the Quikgro project in Malawi are the Malawi Government's Department of Agriculture and Research Services, the International Potato Center, University of St Andrews and the James Hutton Institute.