asked the Minister for Agriculture if the Irish Potato Marketing Board have plans to extend their sales of exported seed potatoes; and the amount spent in 1984 exploring new markets for seed potatoes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Seed Potato Sales.
21.
Plans for exports of seed potatoes are primarily a matter for Irish Potato Marketing Ltd. However, I have been informed that they hope to increase exports mainly by the development of existing market outlets using new Irish varieties.
Does the Minister agree that our substantial markets for seed potatoes which existed up to about 15 years ago have steadily declined and that it is very difficult to justify the existence of the Irish Potato Marketing Board unless they improve? Could the Minister tell us how much they spent on promotion of our seed potatoes abroad?
Their budget for promotion is a sum of £45,000 and about £10,000 of that is spent on new markets. However, they have found that their best bet is to develop existing markets. The Deputy will be glad to know that for the last two years they have broken even or made a small profit mainly due to the fact that, in conjunction with An Foras Talúntais, they developed the new varieties, Cara and Clada, which are highly successful, especially in Egypt, Cyprus, Portugal, Israel and Spain.
Does the Minister agree that there should be a higher concentration on seed potatoes and that a budget of a mere £35,000 is not enough to promote a product which we can grow in abundance and profitably? It is ridiculous when one considers that there is a change in the farming pattern from milk and beef production where there are surpluses.
I discussed this with a member of the board and they are quite satisfied that they are disposing of the seed which they are producing at a small profit and that the market for Cara is growing. However, it is difficult as not every market will accept Irish potatoes or have even shown an interest in them.