U.S. Finds Emerging Market for Seed Potatoes In War Torn Sri Lanka DENVER (October 17, 2014)—Three hundred metric tons (MT) of U.S. seed potatoes are headed into Sri Lanka for planting in the Jaffna region, November 2014. This is the direct result of the United States Potato Board’s (USPB) market development program. This shipment is expected to lead the way to additional seed purchases. As a market that imports 6,000-7,000 MT of seed potatoes annually, Sri Lanka represents an excellent emerging opportunity for U.S. seed exporters. Utilizing Emerging Market Program and industry funds, the USPB had initiated seed variety trials in Sri Lanka during 2008/2009. These trials revealed how two U.S. varieties, not only outperformed the Dutch varieties currently being used, but also fetched prices 10-40 percent higher. It typically takes several years to produce sufficient data for registration, but these two varieties—Cal White and Red LaSoda—were officially registered February 2012. In August 2011, a Sri Lankan seed potato importer first visited a U.S. seed grower’s farm in Stockton, CA, as part of a Reverse Trade Mission conducted by the USPB. The importer was very impressed, not only with the quality of the seed and farm operations, but also the timing of the harvest. The exporter was similarly impressed by the opportunity provided by the seed potato needs of Sri Lanka. The farmers in the Jaffna growing region can only plant in November for harvest in January/February, because the climate is too hot during the rest of the year. As California seed growers can supply seed for planting in November, they are a good fit for this market. After this August 2011 visit, the U.S. exporter sent samples to Sri Lanka via the USDA Quality Samples Program. This initial development work enabled the U.S. exporter to send its first commercial shipment of seed in October 2012. The Jaffna farmers were very happy with the results of their potato harvest, and asked for more seed. During the July 2013-June 2014 marketing year, this U.S. grower sent 150 MT of seed from California. Plans are in place to double this amount in the current year. Sri Lanka had endured a 25-year civil war, where the Tamil population fought for a separate homeland. The war ended in 2009; however, the Jaffna area where the Tamils live, once supplied 30 percent of the potatoes for Sri Lanka. This dropped to almost nothing by the end of the war, but is now building back up. Most of the land mines have been cleared and the road connecting Jaffna Province with the rest of the country was fully repaved in early 2014. This should enable the Tamil farmers in Jaffna to further increase their potato production, sales and seed purchases. For more information on the USPB as the nation’s potato marketing organization, positioned as the “catalyst for positive change,” and the central organizing force in implementing programs that will increase demand for potatoes, please visit uspotatoes. In an effort to enhance diversity of the Board, USDA encourages women, younger growers, minorities, and people with disabilities to seek positions on the board. ### David Fairbourn is Manager, Industry Communications & Policy, at the United States Potato Board in Denver. The mission of the USPB is to increase demand for potatoes and potato products through an integrated promotion program, thereby providing U.S. producers with expanding markets for their production. David can be contacted at 303-369-7783 or david.fairbourn@uspotatoes. For complete information about the programs, ROI results, resources and tools available to all members of the industry through the USPB, please visit uspotatoes. The United States Potato Board—Maximizing Return on Grower Investment.
Posted on: Fri, 17 Oct 2014 22:56:46 +0000