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A Review on Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Production

Situations in Ethiopia
Helen Teshome Tesfaye
Wolaita Sodo University, College of Agriculture, Department of Horticulture, P.O. Box 138

Abstract
Ethiopia, with a population of about 81 million, is the second-most populous country in sub-Saharan Africa. Food
insecurity is a major and ever worsening problem. Potato has been considered as a strategic crop by the Ethiopian
government aiming at enhancing food security and economic benefits to the country as, potato has a high potential
to supply a cheap and quality food within a relatively short period. Ethiopia is one of the principal potato producing
countries in Africa. Central, Eastern, North-Western and Southern regions, constitute approximately 83% of the
potato farmers in the country. Most of the available agricultural land is suitable for potato production.
Keywords: Potato, Production, Ethiopia

Introduction
About 85% of the Ethiopian population, residing in the rural area, is engaged in agricultural production as a major
means of livelihood. However, Ethiopian agriculture is characterized by low productivity and over the last decades
it has been unable to produce sufficient quantities to feed the rapidly growing population of the country. In fact,
natural calamities, food insecurity and famine seem to have become the salient features and critical problems of
the country [1].
Ethiopia, with a population of about 81 million, is the second-most populous country in sub-Saharan
Africa. Food insecurity is a major and ever worsening problem. Underlying causes include rapidly increasing
population pressure, low productivity of the agricultural sector, widespread environmental degradation and
recurrent droughts [2].
Potato is regarded as a high-potential food security crop because of its ability to provide a high yield of
high-quality product per unit input with a shorter crop cycle [3]. Potato can play an important role in improving
food security and cash income of smallholder potato growers in Ethiopia. As a food crop, potato has a high
potential to supply a cheap and quality food within a relatively short period. Potatoes are the perfect food and one
of the few that can actually sustain life on its own. Potato is a well-balanced major plant food with a good ratio
between proteins and calories, and has substantial amounts of vitamins, especially vitamin C, minerals, and trace
elements. Moreover, it has the correct balance of protein calories and total calories. It is considered to be one of
the cheapest sources of energy and the production of protein per unit land is the highest among the four major food
crops (rice, maize, wheat and potato) [4].
Potato has long been regarded as a lowly subsistence crop and is still an underexploited food crop. Potato
has huge potential to improve food security, income and human nutrition and it is in Ethiopia where the potential
of this crop is increasingly being realized and explored by farmers, private investors, and policy makers. While,
national average yields are still far below attainable yields, ample opportunities exist to unleash this crop’s
potential for increased food security and income generation [5].
Potato has been considered as a strategic crop by the Ethiopian government aiming at enhancing food
security and economic benefits to the country. As the population grows rapidly, increased productivity of potatoes
can improve the livelihood of smallholder potato farmers and is required to meet the growing demand [6]. The
potato subsector is potentially of great importance for pro-poor growth since it is the best option for many
households to generate income in Ethiopia. Potato production could fill the gap in food supply during the hungry
months of July to August before the grain crops are being harvested [7].
Ethiopia is one of the principal potato producing countries in Africa and probably displays a unique
position for having the highest potential area for cultivating potatoes [8]. The result of this review study showed
Ethiopian potentially for potato production and factors affecting the production system. These consists lack of
wide adaptive improved potato varieties, unavailability of improved storage facilities, the high cost of improved
seed tuber, inappropriate agronomic practices, low price of produced tuber especially immediately during harvest
and lack of marketing and suitable post-harvest management facilities, pests and disease

Major Potato Production Area in Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, potato is grown in four major areas: the Central, the Eastern, the North-Western and the Southern
regions, which together constitute approximately 83% of the potato farmers in the country [9].
In the Central area, potato production includes the highland areas surrounding the capital, i.e. Addis
Ababa. In this area the major potato growing zones are West Shewa and North Shewa About 10% of the potato
farmers are located in this area [9]. Average productivity of a potato crop ranges from 8 to 10 Mg ha-1 which is

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higher than the productivity in the North-Western and Southern areas. This higher productivity might be due to
the use of improved varieties and practices obtained from Holetta Agricultural Research Centre in the central area.
In the central area potato is produced mainly in the belg (short rain season-February to May) and meher (long rain
season-June to October) periods. Potato is also grown off-season under irrigation (October to January). Because
of the cool climate and access to improved varieties, farmers in this area of the country also produce seed potatoes
which are sold to other farmers in the vicinity or to NGOs and agricultural bureaus to be disseminated to distant
farmers. In the central area, farmers grow about seven local varieties, eight improved varieties and six clones (i.e.
genetic material which is not officially released) [3].
The Eastern area of potato production mainly covers the Eastern highlands of Ethiopia, especially the
East Harerge zone. Only about 3% of the total number of smallholder potato producing farmers in Ethiopia grow
potato inhabit in this area [9]. However, the area is identified specifically because the majority of the potato farmers’
in this region produce potatoes for the market and the farmers have also access to export markets in Djibouti and
Somalia. Potato is mainly grown under irrigation in the dry season (December to April). This season is
characterized by low disease pressure and relatively high prices [10b] Potato is also produced in the belg (February
to May) and the meher (June to October) seasons. Most farmers grow local potato varieties. However, some
farmers in the vicinity of Haramaya University in the Eastern area and farmers who are targeted by NGO seed
programmes have access to improved varieties [10a]. Despite the use of local varieties, the productivity of potato
in this area is equivalent to the productivity in the Central area. This might be due to good farm management
practices triggered by the farmers’ market orientation [3].
The North-Western area of potato production is situated in the Amhara region. It is the major potato
growing area in the country, accounting for about 40% of the potato farmers [9]. South Gonder, North Gonder,
East Gojam, West Gojam and Agew Awi are the major potato production zones in this region. Farmers mainly
grow local varieties. Productivity ranges from 7 to 8 Mg ha-1. In this area, the largest volume of potato is produced
in the dry season using irrigation as well as during belg (short rainy) season. Potato is also produced in the Meher
(main growing) season. Data on genotype use in the Awi district show that there were 21 potato genotypes grown,
of which 67% are local varieties. Ninety percent of the farmers grow these local varieties [3].
The Southern area of Ethiopia in which potato is grown, is mainly located in the Southern Nations’,
Nationalities’ Potato Production System (SNNPRs) comprises all processes and activities (land preparation
through harvesting) undertaken to produce ware or seed potatoes and Peoples’ Regional State (SNNPRs) and partly
in the Oromiya region. The major potato producing zones in this area are Gurage, Gamo Goffa, Hadiya, Wolyta,
Kambata, Siltie and Sidam a in the SNNPRS and West Arsi zone in Oromiya. More than 30% of the total number
of potato farmers is located in this area [10b]. Potato tubers are produced under rain-fed conditions and under
irrigation. Productivity usually ranges from 7 to 8 Mg ha-1 where as in some places potato productivity is even
below 7 Mg ha-1. About six varieties are grown, of which four are local and two are improved [15].

Opportunities and Challeges of Potato Production in Ethiopia

Ethiopia has possibly the highest potential for potato production of any country in Africa. There is a high potential
to expand the cultivation area of the potato crop, as 70% of the country's arable land has potentially suitable to
potato cultivation [11]. Currently, only 2% of the potential area in Ethiopia is under potato production and the
average productivity of potato is less than 10 Mg/ha. Most of the available agricultural land is located at an altitude
of 1800-2500 m.a.s.l and receive an annual rainfall of more than 600 - 1,200 mm, which is suitable for potato
production [12].
The low acreage and productivity of potato in Ethiopia are attributed to many factors. The major ones are
lack of well adapted and high-yielding cultivars, unavailability and high cost of seed tubers, inappropriate
agronomic practices, and lack of marketing and suitable post-harvest management facilities, pests and disease [13]
[14] [15] [16]. [17] Also described that lack of varieties with stable and high yield potential, lack of good quality
seeds, disease and pest problems, drought and seed dormancy to fit the local cropping calendar, lack of improved
characterization and ex situ conservation of potato genetic resources are very important limitations to potato
production by smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan-Africa. Several varieties of potato are grown by farmers some
of which are local and others are improved varieties. According to [14], 98.7% of the seed tubers required in
Ethiopia are supplied from the local varieties. The seed tubers supplied by this system have poor sanitary,
physiological, physical and genetic qualities [13] [14] [3].
The yield gap between attainable and potential yield of potato in Ethiopia is very high. A study by [19]
in Ethiopia on bacterial wilt finds out that disease are one of the most important factors that contributes to this high
yield gap in the country. According to [19], the contribution of diseases to the gap between the production potential
and the current average national production takes a large part since potato crop is susceptible to a number of
diseases including late blight, viruses and bacteria wilt. This same study indicated that mid-altitude areas of the
country around Shashamene, Bako, Jima and Rift Valley are most affected by bacterial wilt. According to [18],
sub-optimal agronomic practices are also the other most important factor contributing to this potato yield gap.

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Vol.57, 2016

Furthermore, the use of local varieties is one and the most important factors which contribute to the low yield of
potato in Ethiopia. This is because; the local varieties are susceptible to late blight and of course low yield potential
[20]

Conclusion
Ethiopia has suitable condition for potato production and Potato can play an important role in improving food
security and cash income of smallholder potato growers in Ethiopia. As a food crop, potato has a high potential to
supply a cheap and quality food within a relatively short period. There is a high potential to expand the cultivation
area of the potato crop in Ethiopia. While, national average yields are still far below attainable yields, ample
opportunities exist to unleash this crop’s potential for increased food security and income generation in Ethiopia.

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