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SPUDSMART.COM INTERNATIONAL EDITION 201512 PROTECTING SMALLER GROWERS While ensuring there is sufficient supply is a top priority Devaux says part of CIPs mandate is to make sure that smaller growers continue to be part of the supply chain. It is still one of the main headaches he says of ensuring smaller growers arent squeezed out by much larger operations. The CIP team plans to study ways to strengthen the negotiating powers of small-scale growers so they can be more competitive with larger operations If you want to involve as much small- scale farmers as possible in this type of business you have to give a lot of support to them and technical assistance Devaux says. But in this case these potatoes grow better at higher altitudes. They have to be grown in the highlands. That gives an advantage to the smaller farmers. Devaux says recent analysis of the trends in Peruvian potato production indicate this CIP-supported initiative has stimulated demand for native and improved potatoes and has also contributed to the supply of new production technology. This is supported by the fact that many small farmers including those who cultivate native potatoes have benefited from the recent increases in potato production sales and farm-gate prices. SEARCH FOR AGILE POTATO CIP is also very active in Asia where rice has been the dominant crop for centuries. Its estimated that more than 90 per cent of the worlds rice supply is produced in the region and it occupies more land there than any other single crop. A team of CIP researchers recently began work on a program that it hopes will provide more and better planting choices for growers in Asia while enhancing farm incomes and food security. The research is part of CIPs new strategic program oriented to enhance food security in Asia through crop diversification. A primary focus for CIP researchers is what has been dubbed the agile potato a short-season variety that could be ready for harvesting within 70 days of planting and could be grown between rice crops in lowland areas. While some short-season varieties are already available in the region they are very susceptible to biotic and abiotic stresses that make it not worthwhile for most farmers to grow them. Greg Forbes CIPs agile potato program leader for Asia says the ultimate aim of the diversification initiative is to develop new high- quality varieties that can be grown in a shorter period of time and are more stress-resistant. Its not like there arent already some potatoes there that have very short seasons. There are. But they arent really optimal right now for farmers in this area Forbes says. That causes problems it increases the cost it lowers the profitability for potato and it creates dependencies on things like seed importations. The diversification program is still relatively new with research having begun just a few years ago. Much of the focus has been in China India and Bangladesh three countries where potato consumption rates are at or above world averages. Research is also being conducted in other nations such as Vietnam and Myanmar. In some areas of Asia rice and potatoes have been grown in the same fields for decades. Because the fields are kept artificially inundated during the rice-growing season there is already sufficient moisture in the soil when it comes time to plant seed potatoes. And since average temperatures in lowland areas usually range between 5 C and 15 C during cooler seasons its ideal for growing potatoes. STRONGER RESISTANCE Forbes says one of the key areas CIP researchers are focusing on is developing stronger resistance to some of the major stressors in the Asian region. In India and Bangladesh for example many existing varieties are particularly susceptible to disease and viruses such as late blight. The problem with that is it forces growers in those countries to be far more reliant on imported seed and excessive pesticide use. Forbes says the hope is that CIPs research will lead to growers in the region being able to develop at least some of their own seed potatoes while reducing their reliance on pesticides. Another challenge the researchers are dealing with is high salinity levels in many fields. While potatoes can A potato saleswoman left peddles her wares in Riobamba Ecuador. PHOTO JEAN-LOUIS GONTERRE IN ASSOCIATION WITH INTERNATIONAL POTATO CENTER. ANDRE DEVAUX If you want to involve as much small-scale farmers as possible in this type of business you have to give a lot of support to them and technical assistance.