SOME INTERESTING ASPECTS OF RECENT AND EXPECTED DEVELOPMENT IN POTATO PRODUCTION IN AFRICA.

The major constraints and developments to potato production in Africa are briefly reviewed. In most areas seed availability and quality is a principal constraint, seed quality is mainly a factor of adaptation/ physiological condition and phytosanitary state. Simple seed schemes operated at a local level are required. Adapted varieties need to be tolerant to the two major diseases, late blight and bacterial wilt and capable of producing on poor soils. The rapid multiplication on germplasm is being adopted rapidly by seed programmes in traditional growing areas. True Potato Seed is showing considerable promise as a means of producing seed in some highland areas. Heat-tolerant germplasm is also showing promise at lower altitudes. Rapid development of national capability to utilise available new technology for improving potato production in Africa is of urgency.