Chile: Potato producers must register their crops with the SAG (Tax Administration Service).
The Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) in the Los Lagos region is informing potato producers that the deadline to register this season’s plantings is December 31.
This procedure is mandatory for all farmers located within the Potato Quarantine Pest-Free Area, which extends from the province of Arauco to the Magallanes region. "We are reminding everyone of this procedure in advance, considering that the planting season is already underway," stated SAG Regional Director Francisco Briones.
Registering potato crops allows the SAG to maintain up-to-date information on planted area, varieties used, and seed origin—essential data for guiding health surveillance efforts aimed at preserving the region’s phytosanitary conditions. It also allows farmers to demonstrate the origin of potatoes sold in the area. The process is free, and farmers must visit their nearest SAG office to report the planted area, variety, and origin of the seed used, which must be legal (certified, current, or their own, as long as it proves it was produced on the same property).
For commercial plantings, documentation proving the seed’s origin must be presented (invoice or label, as appropriate). For subsistence farmers, registration is a one-time process, but it does not authorize the product to be marketed. According to the 2021 Agricultural and Forestry Census, approximately 40,000 hectares of potatoes are cultivated annually in Chile, making it the fourth most important crop in terms of surface area, after wheat, oats, and corn.
The Los Lagos region has a strategic position in national potato production, with nearly 11,000 hectares planted. This represents approximately 32% of the country’s total surface area. It is a key sector for family farming and for large producers specializing in seed, industrial supply, and seed export.
"It is essential to maintain the excellent health conditions that characterize our region. This attribute makes the sector competitive, benefits small, medium, and large farmers, and ensures the continued production of one of the most important crops in southern Chile," emphasized Sergio Briones, Regional Director of SAG.
Fuente: radiosago.cl
