Panamanian Producers Are Betting On A New Variety Of Potato

(MENAFN- Newsroom Panama) The Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) reported on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, that the cultivation of a variety of potato was approved. It is called Golden Globe, of American origin, and was endorsed after research by the Institute of Agricultural Innovation of Panama (Idiap) and the approval of the National Seed Committee. You may remember recently that a potato shortfall in Panama created a market for Canadian potatoes to be brought into the Isthmus to help with that shortage. Among the characteristics of this variety of potato, its yield stands out, as it produces 40 tons per hectare, 5 tons more than Granola, which until now dominates the local market with 90% of production in the province of Chiriquí and the Ngäbe Buglé region.

The decision to opt for a different variety of potato comes after the production of Granola fell from 712 thousand quintals in 2020 to 402 thousand in 2023 due to factors such as the climate, the use of agrochemicals and the increase in production costs. In addition, agricultural authorities highlight that the Golden Globe variety has a high tolerance to diseases such as late blight and Pecto Bacterium, in addition to its adaptability to local cultivation areas. According to MIDA data, in Panama potato consumption is 14.3 kg per inhabitant per year, and its production generates 11.7 million dollars in agricultural goods and services.

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