REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON Peace-Work-Fatherland
REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON Peace-Work-Fatherland
MINISTERE DE L'AGRICULTURE ET DU DEVELOPPEMENT RURAL
SECRETARIAT GENERAL
DIRECTION DES ORGANISATIONS PROFESSIONNELLES AGRICOLES ET DE L'APPUI AUX EXPLOITATIONS AGRICOLES
SOUS-DIRECTION DE LA VULGARISATION AGRICOLE
Minader
Ministers de l'Agriculture et du Développement Rural Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
GENERAL SECRETARIAT
DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONNAL AGRICULTURAL ORGANISATIONS AND SUPPORT TO FARM ENTERPRISES
SUB-DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION
TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC DATA SHEET
FOR POTATO PRODUCTION AND POST-PRODUCTION
October 2024
Content
OBJECTIVE... 3 GENERAL INFORMATION... 3 I- TECHNICAL ITINERARY... 3 II.1 Soil selection... 3 II.2 Choice of varieties... 4 II.3 Rotation plan... 4 II.4 Soil preparation... 4 II.5 Sowing method, depth, density... 4 II.6 Fertilisation... 5 II.7 Farm maintenance... 6 II.8 Disease and Pest Control... 6 II.9 Harvesting and Transportation... 7 II.10 Storage... 7 II.11 Control... 8 II.12 Packaging... 8 II.13 Processing... 8 Constraints and Risks... 8 II- PROVISIONAL OPERATING ACCOUNT (1ha ware potato)... 9 APPENDIX: VARIOUS VARIETIES... 11
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this technical data sheet is to ensure increased productivity and production in Cameroon in order to mitigate the effects of food crisis and limit the import of some essential commodities by providing producers with a compendium of good agricultural practices. It is a support and reference tool for extension workers and rural advisers in terms of producer capacity-building.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Potatoes are grown at high altitudes and low temperatures. In Cameroon, it is grown in the Western Highlands, the Adamawa area, the Mandara Mountains (Mokolo area), the Mbouroukou zone (Mélong) and the mountainous sites of Bamuck in the South-West region. The most suited areas are: Tibati, Dschang, Bangou, Bangang, Babadjou, Djuttitsa, Bamendjou, Bayangam, Balatchi, Santa, Bamenda and Mokolo.
- Altitude above 1200 metres;
- Temperatures ranging from 16°C to 28°C, with an optimum of 18-25°C.
- Abundant sunshine with little or no shade;
- Rainfall during the cycle between 300 mm and 700 mm.
I- TECHNICAL ITINERARY
II.1 Soil selection
The characteristics required for the plot selected are as follows:
- Soil rich in humus, well drained, with little or no gravel;
- Have a gentle slope;
- Be free of all potato diseases;
- The soil should not have been planted with potatoes or any other solanaceous plants (tomatoes, chillies, peppers, nightshades, etc.) for the previous 2-3 years;
- A clean field, free of weeds or, at least, with easily controllable weed species. (Avoid plots with Cyperus rotundus, which is difficult to destroy due to the presence of propagation tubers, and Amaranthus spinosus with spines and massive seed production...)
- Avoid water points that are contaminated by Ralstonia (fungus): even slight contamination should lead to systematic abandonment of the plot. This also applies to plots containing excessive levels of salts. A history of the plot must be
established over a period of 3 years (not 3 cycles), taking into account the fertilisation received;