Nueva Zelanda: Wet and soggy conditions delay planting of potatoes in Horowhenua District
In Horowhenua District on the west coast of the North Island, potato growers are in the thick of planting at the moment. However, the very wet winter can make it tough going.
Flooding in Horowhenua last month delayed the asparagus harvesting season, after some fields were left completely under water.
Chris Claridge from Potatoes New Zealand said it was delayed potato planting in the region too: "The weather has impacted some growers, but overall the planting is still in progress. We experienced a significant wet period in the Horowhenua and Manawatū region, in which the growers around Palmerston North and Levin experienced a great deal of wet weather, which has delayed their planting. Obviously, the fields have to dry out before you can get in there and cultivate."
Claridge said plantings were on track in the rest of the country however, despite recent rainfall in the Canterbury region. Still, Claridge said does not expect the delays will result in supply issues.
According to Claridge, demand for potato exports was starting to pick up again after reaching serious lows during the pandemic. Exports to key markets plummeted in late 2020, but Claridge said the industry had been buoyed by consistent demand from the Pacific Islands.
Source: rnz.co.nz
Fuente: https://www.freshplaza.com/latin-america/article/9468425/wet-and-soggy-conditions-delay-planting-of-potatoes-in-horowhenua-district/
