Potato Farming Value Addition and Processing Workshop Report Botswana

The Rural and urban Agriculture Innovative Production Program (RUAIPP)

Potato Farming Value Addition and Processing Workshop Report

Location: Gaborone, University of Botswana
Attendance: 80 men and women from Botswana’s districts

Facilitator: Hunter Executive, President and Founder of Farmer’s Pride International

Day 1 Topics Covered:

• Africa’s agricultural history and the impact of colonization
• The global influence of potatoes and major potato-growing countries
• Culinary and industrial uses of potatoes, health benefits, and economic advantages for African farming communities
• Soil preparation types, planting potatoes in various containers, seed selection, potato ecology management
• Fertilizer application, watering, pest and disease control
• Bill of Quantities for growing 1000 bags of potatoes
• Homework assignment: Making Crisp Chips

Day 2 Topics Covered:

• Open field potato farming techniques
• Land preparation, manure and fertilizers, additives benefits
• Potato varieties: types, characteristics, categories, generations
• Planting spacing depth and ridging
• Pest and disease management, harvesting, storage
• Value addition and processing

The workshop provided a platform for prospective potato farmers to transition into productive agripreneurs. Participants brought samples of Potato Crisps for evaluation by Hunter Executive.

Additional Resources for Further Learning:

1. Top Value Addition Tips: Offers 13 value addition ideas to help farmers increase crop value and create new market opportunities.
2. Potato Value Chain Productivity: Discusses how innovation platforms can optimize resources and develop value-added products to widen market outlets.
3. Agribusiness Guide: A comprehensive guide to food processing in agribusiness.
4. Sustainable Opportunities: Examines opportunities for value addition and employment in post-harvest processing.
5. Institutional Factors Review: Reviews challenges faced by potato farmers including postharvest handling and limited processing facilities.

This report aims to encapsulate the essence of the workshop while providing additional resources to support the ongoing education and development of potato farming practices across African continent.

#RuralAndUrbanAgricultureInovativeProduction