Michael Creed
Ceist:161 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline the steps, if any, he intends to take to encourage additional potato growing in this country.
Written Answers. - Potato Growing.
Determining the optimum potato acreage is difficult due to seasonal variation in yields. An increase in acreage must be market led and planned if the industry as a whole is not to be put at some risk.
An Bord Glas, which was established, inter alia, to promote the development of the potato sector, has already prepared development programmes for seed and ware potatoes. In addition, EC and State aid is being provided for new and improved storage capacity, which will enable producers to market their produce in an orderly fashion. This should help to maximise returns to growers and to offer domestically-produced alternatives to imported potatoes.