Written Answers. - Potato Production.
Noel Ahern
Question:
176
Mr. N. Ahern
asked the
Minister for Agriculture and Food
the reason for the high retail price for potatoes; the acreage and production of the potato crop in recent years; the way in which this compares with previous decades; if Ireland is self-sufficient in potatoes; if not, the reason in this regard in view of the overproduction of products for which there is no market; if details of imports can be provided; the steps, if any, that can be taken for future years to provide a sufficient quantity of old season potatoes until the new crop arrives; the plans, if any, he has to avoid a repeat of the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15219/98]
Approximately 1,500 growers are commercially involved in potato production. The annual area planted for early ware production is approximately 3,500 hectares over 50 per cent of which is planted in County Dublin.
Acreage and potato production figures over the period 1994 to 1997 are set out in the following table:
|
Year
|
Area (hectares)
|
Production (tonnes)
|
|
1997
|
16,875
|
490,000
|
|
1996
|
23,000
|
690,000
|
|
1995
|
22,600
|
626,020
|
|
1994
|
22,000
|
770,000
|
Comparative acreage and production figures for previous years are as set out as follows:
|
Year
|
Area (hectares)
|
Production (tonnes)
|
|
1993
|
20,360
|
533,000
|
|
1990
|
26,000
|
517,000
|
|
1988
|
28,100
|
340,000
|
|
1977
|
53,419
|
414,000
|
The above table shows that in common with the rest of Europe, there has been a considerable decline in the acreage sown over the past 20 years. However, higher yields have more than offset the decline in acreage. The potato sector is subject to normal market forces which can lead to fluctuations in producer prices and in areas planted from year to year.
Production and yield in any particular year can be influenced significantly by factors such as climatic and soil conditions and the assessment which producers make of likely market conditions. Prices are influenced by supply and demand and the level of exports and imports.
In the spring of this year early potato crops were well advanced in growth as a result of the particularly favourable growing conditions up to the time of severe frost in April. The foliage of such crops was particularly vulnerable and was damaged by the frost. A setback of this nature to growth resulted in later harvesting of potato crops and resulted in a reduced supply accounting for the current retail prices. Published CSO figures in respect of imports for 1997 show that 40,449 tonnes were imported compared with 10,633 tonnes exported.
A number of support measures for the potato industry are operated by my Department. Financial assistance is available for: the setting up and operation of approved potato producer groups, and investment in improving the storage, including refrigerated storage, and marketing infrastructure.
Sums of £7 million and £4.05 million were allocated to the sector in the 1994-99 round of Structural Funding under, respectively, the Food Sub-programme of the Operational Programme for Industrial Development and the Operational Programme for Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry. Grant aided expenditure under these programmes has enabled producers to improve efficiency, and extend the marketing season for the potato crop up to June-July, without any deterioration in quality, thereby reducing seasonal dependence on imports and improving competitiveness of Irish producers.
While there are no statistics yet available for this year's plantings indications are that the acreage is sufficient, and with reasonbable yields, there should be adequate supplies available to meet demand in 1999.
