Hatire Payam, in Ikwoto County, and Palotaka, Larwa and Palwar, in the Acholi corridor of Eastern Equatoria state, have been selected for potato production in South Sudan.
Juan Landeo, a potato scientist working with International Potato Centre, told Radio Emmanuel during a trip to Hatire Payam that he was surveying the area for potato production.He said that others places have also been earmarked to study the community, their production capacity and the suitability of the soil for potato production.
He added that his team would write a report on the situation of potato industry in South Sudan to formulate alternatives for seed production, improved production and markets’ establishment.
Dr Landeo said he was impressed with some potato yields produced in Hatire that famers brought for him to assess.
He said that Hatire could produce good potato crops like Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo, if better seeds were selected and varieties improved.
George Louis Todu, a researcher on roots and tubers in the national Ministry of Agriculture, said there were other places for potato production in South Sudan including Yei, Ombasi and Morobo in Central Equatoria state.