China is the world’s largest potato-growing country: with 5 million hectares under cultivation in 2007, it accounted for 25% of the world’s total production. The average yield per hectare is about 16 tonnes. Currently, most of China’s potato production is used for fresh eating (60%); processing to potato chips, French fries and fast-frozen food accounts for about 10%.
The development of China’s potato market has been hampered by a lack of access to various technologies: only 25% of planted seed potatoes are certified virus-free and only 1% of farmers use machinery in potato production. In addition, most farmers lack knowledge of pest and disease control methodology.
Advantages clear
But things are changing. As the 5th largest crop in China, the potato is gaining in importance. The yield per unit area of rice, corn and wheat is not expected to increase due to technology limitations. The potato can yield three to four times as much as these crops per hectare – and it is also more drought-resistant than rice and wheat. As 60% of China’s arable land is dry, potato growing is regarded by the government as one of the best ways of meeting the increasing food demand of 1.3 billion people, as well as a good opportunity for farmers to improve their income. With strong support from the government, the potato-planting area is expected to increase to 6.6 million hectares; the use of virus-free seed potatoes will also be encouraged.
Modern solutions
Bayer CropScience first entered the potato market in China in 2007. The company is able to provide a product portfolio (GauchoŽ for seed treatment, AntracolŽ for Alternatia control and InfinitoŽ for Phytophthora control) that is well-suited to China’s potato production conditions. Bayer CropScience is actively cooperating with the relevant government organisations towards the introduction of state-of-the-art crop protection solutions. In 2007, large scale demonstrations of Infinito and Antracol were organised in several key provinces. In addition, many field seminars were held, during which Bayer CropScience sales personnel trained farmers how to grow healthy potatoes and demonstrated the efficacy of Bayer CropScience product solutions.
Good business relationships
With the rapid development of China’s potato market, some big international food companies have actively begun operating in China, with some success. They have their own potato supply chains as well as their own potato farms, where high-quality potatoes can be produced using modern farm management and pest and disease control technologies. Bayer CropScience has established good business relationships with these companies and is providing the necessary support by offering training and sharing knowledge of good practice in potato farming and management gained abroad.
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