Cabinet Secretary discusses seed potato exports
Scottish seed potatoes have an outstanding reputation in both national and international markets, due to their excellent quality and high health status, said Richard Lochhead after a recent visit to seed potato grower and director of Caithness Potatoes, Robert Doig .
The Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment discussed the achievements and challenges in international seed potato markets with exporters and growers Robert Doig and Gordon Smillie of Caithness Potatoes in addition to Potato Council head of seed and export, Mark Prentice.
The seed potato industry is becoming increasingly important to the Scottish economy, said Mr Doig, who is also a board member of Potato Council and chairman of its seed and export committee. Increasing numbers of ware buyers overseas appreciate the health benefits of the maritime Scottish climate for producing seed potatoes. This has contributed to an overall increase in exports of 30 per cent over the past ten years.
Mr Doig and Mr Smillie discussed the protection of Scotlands high plant health status with Mr Lochhead.
The success of the entire Scottish potato sector depends on plant health, explained Mr Prentice. This is why we are supporting with initiatives such 500k worth of essential research on Dickeya-blackleg co-funded by Potato Council and the Scottish Government.
The sector really values the advisory services offered by the dedicated potato teams at Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) and the Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (RPID), said Mr Doig. Furthermore, there is a dedicated resource at SASA dealing with seed potato export liaison. It is vital that both the industry and Government supported services work together to capitalise on the opportunities in export markets.
Statistical figures continue to show an increase in exports of seed potatoes of over 30 per cent in the last ten years.
During his visit, Mr Lochhead was shown round the new state-of-the-art storage and grading complex that Mr Doig has developed over the last five years with the help of Scottish Government grant funding from the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP).
The Minister watched as potatoes were prepared for dispatch to Egypt, Israel and Iraq.
Imports to Egypt have achieved a year-on-year increase of 32 per cent. The yield from these seeds will be primarily used for consumption in Egypt, but some are re-exported as ware to the EU and increasingly countries like Russia, explained Mr Doig.
We are delighted that Cabinet Secretary, Richard Lochhead has taken time out of his busy schedule to come and discuss seed potato exports, said Mr Doig. We are proud of the Scottish seed potato industry and Potato Council, together with the Scottish Government will continue to nurture it so it fulfills its full potential.