Twelve potato producers and agricultural companies related to this production were provided with technical assistance and economic support by ProCórdoba Agency, under the Ministry of Industry, in order for them to participate in the 27th edition of the Congress of the Latin American Potato Association (ALAP), that was held in Bogotá, Colombia, from 28th September to 2nd October of the current year. It is important to highlight that the activities to support this productive sector are constantly promoted by the municipality of Villa Dolores, whose mayor, Mr. Juan Pereyra, is part of the Agency Directory.

This mission was very important for local producers because the Province of Córdoba has the second greatest potato harvest in the country after Buenos Aires. The annually planted area in our province ranges from 20 and 25 thousand hectares. The producers who participated in this mission are from Villa Dolores and the surrounding areas.

With respect to the importance of this participation, Carlos Alberto Del Caso, producer and President of the Comisión Agrícola de la Sociedad Rural del Oeste (Agricultural Commission of the West Rural Society) said: 

“This is the most important congress within the Latin American sector and it involves the participation of producers from 19 different countries. Our delegation was the only one which presented producers from Argentina. Moreover, thanks to this opportunity, we were able to technically update ourselves with producers from other countries."

Potato growing is the most important activity worldwide, after wheat and rice production. Del Caso highlighted the importance of food function. It also emphasized that "today, the production and selling of potatoes focus on their healing properties." What is more, he said that in the congress it was affirmed that "the future of the sector is about thinking and taking advantage of the added value that can be given to the harvest and potato marketing. We are working together to regulate it."

Meanwhile, in the framework of the Congress, Mario Andreu from "Andreu Alimentos" had the opportunity to have a conversation with the Business Manager of "Èxito" supermarket chain, one of the greatest chains in Colombia and, in relation to this; he said that they aim at introducing minimally processed and precooked potato in vacuum packed containers. 

On the other hand, with respect to the possibility of supplying, the producer from Córdoba said: 

“We hope that next year, we will be able to start selling because we will have the facilities finished in the industrial park. What is more, we are working with the Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial (INTI) (National Institute of Industrial Technology) in order to develop machines that will be needed for the semi-processed products in vacuum packed containers, because we believe that, with a packaging with two to six months durability, we will be able to export to markets further than the MERCOSUR. Among the producers of the province, we are analyzing the possibility of association in order to fulfill this goal."

Likewise, the representative of Andreu Alimentos stated that, in the long term, there are landing possibilities in Colombia and Peru because each country has a consumption of over 60 kilograms per capita and they are markets with great demands for processed products.

Besides, in relation to our country’s opportunity to supply these markets, Andreu said that in Colombia the potato harvest is essential since it means 130 thousand hectares with a production of 3 million tonnes annually. On the other hand, Argentina has about 80 thousand hectares available for this harvest, with an output of more than two and half million tonnes, which implies that less surface area is being planted but almost the same output is obtained. 

Engineer Darío Ciscar, Coordinator of the Current Mission to Colombia, highlighted some considerations taken by different panelists during the Congress on the production and consumption of potatoes in Latin America and they are mentioned below:

• Nowadays, Latin America represents less than 5% of the world potato production, even though its origin was from the Andean region of South America. 

• Latin America production is becoming less and less important worldwide. 

• In general, potato image is one of the main factors that negatively influence and explain the decrease in the consumption in our region. 

• A hard work on the appraising of the potato is necessary, by using lots of scientific conclusions that show the positive aspects of potato in the human nutrition. 

Likewise, Mr. Ciscar said that in Colombia there is an interesting use of potato that could be seen not only during the Congress but also in the restaurants. A great variety of native potatoes are included in dishes eaten not only by the Colombians but also tourists that visit Bogotá.

In relation to what has been experienced, the coordinator of this mission said that in that country small potatoes are preferred to be eaten entirely, with skin and a great variety of preferred flavors and textures and with different ways of cooking (boiled, fried, mashed, as snacks, etc).

Finally, the agronomist Mr. Darío Ciscar, concluded:

“Producers from Córdoba should take into account these alternatives in order for the potato not to be synonym for sales in bags of 40-50 kilograms in wholesale markets and with limited differentiation. There are lots of business alternatives that should be evaluated and exploited. The added value is a premise that they have to continue working in order to improve the competitiveness within the sector and its consolidation as producers."

For further information about these and other companies of the Province of Córdoba, please enter to our Directory of Export Offer by clicking here.