THE 90-day potato trial project is currently in its eighth week and showing positive results. The National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and the World University Services of Canada, Caribbean, (Guyana) Incorporated, have collaborated to cultivate five different varieties of Irish potatoes on a quarter-acre plot in Little Biaboo, Mahaicony Creek.
The project is being implemented and funded by the Government of Canada through the Promotion of Regional Opportunities for Produce through Enterprises and Linkages (PROPEL) Project. The pilot project at Little Biaboo started in the latter part of January and is expected to be harvested at the end of April.
The varieties of potato cultivated are Spunta, Kennebec, Chieftain, Bristol Pride and Shepody, with the Bristol Pride showing excellent yields and growth rates. On Tuesday, a fertilisation and harvesting practical session was carried out, demonstrating to farmers procedures for caring for the potato crop.
Chief Executive Officer of NAREI, Dr. Oudho Homenauth, said that this is a successful trial of Irish potato cultivation. He noted that a similar project was carried out at Laluni on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway but, the exercise had failed because of flooding.
Dr. Homenauth said that since there are signs of success, it is only a matter of time before similar projects are rolled out in neighbouring communities. The possibility of successfully cultivating potatoes along the low coastal plain had almost been ruled out, given that the region is prone to flooding. The land on which the trial is being conducted has been altered to avoid flooding. Bhagwan Persaud, the farmer on whose land the pilot project is being executed, said that he is interested in expanding the production of the potato crop. The farmer said that potato was never cultivated in the area and could be another major crop coming out of Little Biaboo.
Persaud noted that if he is to expand production, a number of factors must be taken into consideration, including allowing enough space for the potatoes develop its full yield. He said conditions such as climate, soil type, irrigation and infrastructure that are favourable for potato production must also be considered. The objectives of the potato cultivation trials are to identify agro-ecological areas on the coastland of Guyana which are suitable for the production of potatoes, to evaluate the adaptation and performance of the five varieties of potatoes, to determine the growers’ perception of the various varieties grown and to examine consumers’ perception, taste and preference. (GINA)