Pakistan Association Chips Away at Poverty
Pakistan’s Potato Seed Growers’ Association—founded with assistance from CNFA in 2008—has seen a great deal of success in the last year. Through better seeds and improved harvest and storage practices, they have reduced losses to nearly zero. Now they have a new success to celebrate: a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with PepsiCo to provide potatoes to make Lay’s Potato Chips, a leading brand billed as “America’s favorite snack for more than 75 years.”
This MOU comes as a result of hard work and determination from Potato Seed Growers’ Association, which is based in Battakundi in the Upper Kaghan region of Pakistan. Although the region has the cold, dry climate ideal for high-quality potato production, producers suffered large post-harvest losses, as much as 40%. Through CNFA’s Improving Livelihoods and Enterprise Development Program (I-LED), potato growers in the area have received and integrated technical assistance and grants to help the industry realize its potential.
Escaping the Post-Harvest Trap
A critical first step toward developing a seed potato industry that has potential to meet local as well as commercial demands was addressing the post-harvest losses. There was little or no storage on most farms, and producers were selling their crops at harvest. To store the seed potato effectively in the snowbound region of Batakundi, I-LED adapted an energy efficient storage cellar design used by Idaho potato farmers in the 1950’s. I-LED provided matching grants to build the earthquake resistant storage cellars and provided training on potato cultivation, production, pest management, harvest and post-harvest handling methods and marketing strategies.
In total, I-LED has constructed 33 potato cellars, each holding up to 25 metric tons of seed potatoes. By conservative estimates, selling seed potatoes after several months of storage as opposed to directly after harvest has increased farmers’ profits by 33%. Additionally, improved post-harvest handling practices and appropriate storage facilities introduced by I-LED has reduced post-harvest losses from 40% on average to less than 1%, providing farmers with a greater supply for sale. I-LED has also contributed for trademark, certification and branding of these seed potatoes to create a corporate identity for the association, which now has over 600 members.
Reaching the International Market
Under the MOU, PepsiCo will provide the imported “Hermes” seed variety from Holland to be used by the association. Growers will produce seed potatoes of certified quality to be purchased by PepsiCo. PepsiCo also intends to set up research and development facilities in the area and assist farmer directly with irrigation and other technical issues. Producers will store seeds for future seasons and expand the program to include more producers.
