South Perth, Western Australia
December 16, 2008
Western Australia’s world class
seed potato industry was in the spotlight during a recent a
visit by Indonesian Government officials and industry
specialists.
The Indonesian visit was organised by the
Department of Agriculture
and Food.
The department is working to optimise the productivity of potato
and associated vegetable cropping systems in four Indonesian
provinces through a project funded by the
Australian Centre for
International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
Department horticulture director Terry Hill said the $1.8
million four-year project aimed to improve both Indonesian and
Western Australian production and develop trade in seed
potatoes.
Mr Hill said the visiting group met with seed potato growers and
packers in WA, and discussed handling, and pest and disease
control issues with department experts.
“The tour was successful in demonstrating the high quality of WA
seed, how this is achieved through the pest and disease-free
environment, the skills of our farmers, and sophisticated seed
inspection, handling and storage,” Mr Hill said.
“These principles need to be incorporated into the Indonesian
system where handling of seed potatoes and pest and disease
control may not be adequate, resulting in low yields and
variable quality.”
Previous visits by Indonesian quarantine officials have led to
WA becoming one of only three locations from which Indonesia
allows import of seed potatoes.
Currently WA exports 2,000 tonnes of seed potatoes valued at
$2.1 million with good potential for growth. It is hoped the
recent visit will enable WA to gain increased access to the
Indonesian seed potato market. |
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