Paraguay: Producers in Paraguarí plan to meet the demand for potatoes, although they insist on the need to stop smuggling.
Approximately 600 potato producers, organized into four associations in the Department of Paraguarí, are advancing in the development of their crops with the aim of supplying the national market from October.
Cirilo Acuña, president of one of the Potato Producers Associations in Paraguarí, where several unions and more than 600 farmers operate, reported that each producer received 300 kilos of certified seeds of the Spunta variety from the Ministry of Agriculture, imported from Argentina.
The plots are currently in the germination phase, and an average yield of between 400 and 450 grams per plant is expected.
In total, this sector covers about 300 hectares of planting, projecting a production of 10 to 15 million kilos.
With an average consumption in Paraguay of 5 million kilos of potatoes per month, the harvest expected by the producers of Paraguarí could ensure the national supply for at least two or three months, depending on the final results.
However, while production expectations are high, the timing of marketing remains a significant concern. Acuña emphasized that excessive smuggling is a major problem for the rural economy, disrupting prices in the local market right during harvest periods.
Producing potatoes in the country involves a considerable financial effort; the investment needed for one hectare amounts to about G. 50 million, including drip irrigation systems and the necessary inputs, Acuña explained.
Most farmers work in open fields, which increases the vulnerability of plants and requires greater soil nutrition. In this context, the Ministry is expected to ensure the delivery of fertilizers to optimize productivity.
To cover high operating costs, the association has set a target price of 4,000 guaraníes per kilo at the farm gate. Producers insist that without strict border controls and stable prices, months of effort could result in losses for rural families.
In light of the anticipated arrival of the El Niño phenomenon, Acuña indicated that precautions are being taken and that continuous technical support is being provided.
We’ve planted at higher levels to improve drainage. We plan to address the humidity with specific products and ongoing technical support to ensure production despite the weather event and avoid total losses.
Fuente: ultimahora.com
