Ecuador: Tungurahua promotes potato production with certified seed

Certified potato seed production continues to strengthen in Tungurahua, a key province in this activity that supplies producers with planting material with high standards of genetic and phytosanitary quality. 

Currently, the province has two seed operators and several authorized multipliers located in Pilahuín (Ambato), Tisaleo, and the parishes of San Andrés and San José de Poaló, in Píllaro. These producers carry out the certification process following the technical protocols established by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries (MAGP).

To obtain certification, producers must use authorized plant material, select suitable land for cultivation, and submit their lots to inspections and technical evaluations that ensure the genetic, physical, and phytosanitary quality of the seed.

In Tungurahua, highly demanded varieties such as Superchola, Cecilia, Yana Shungo and Puca Shungo are cultivated, adapted to the agroclimatic conditions of the region and widely used by farmers.

The province has 17 hectares dedicated to the production of certified seed, with an average yield of 16.67 tons per hectare, contributing significantly to the supply of this essential resource for potato cultivation. 

According to MAGP data, the use of certified seed improves yields and helps to reduce the incidence of diseases in crops, offering producers material with varietal identity and traceability.

Oswaldo Sevilla, an authorized producer, mentioned that the certification process requires compliance with rigorous technical standards to ensure that farmers receive healthy, high-quality seeds.