The hills of Chencha in southern Ethiopia, over 12,000 feet above sea level, are not a place where you might expect the Irish potato to be thriving.
There are many potato farmers in Ethiopia but historically, the seed that has been available to farmers is poor quality; therefore, production is poor.
Farming practices are traditional, which means harvests are far below what Irish potato growers reap. There is also little focus on tackling diseases such as blight.
However, the Irish potato and Irish agricultural expertise are now being used to change all of this through a highly innovative program.
Ireland exports almost 90 produce of food produced, and that is thanks to the massive modernization program led by the Irish government.
Ireland has a state body called Teagasc under the Department of Agriculture, which supports farmers with research, advisory services and training.
Teagasc has acquired international renown for its innovation and support of farmers. Teagasc itself has been greatly supported by American universities and science bodies over the past 30 years. Now, in turn, Teagasc wants to share this know-how with African partners.
Working with Irish development agency Vita and the Potato Centre of Excellence in Ethiopia is making that ambition a reality.
In 2012 Teagasc partnered with Vita and Wageninen in Holland to set up a three Ph.D. research programs in southern Ethiopia.
Three Ethiopian master’s students have spent the last two years living with potato farmers to introduce new ways of growing and storing potatoes and to observe how farmers adopt these new practices.
Teagasc is not only working with potatoes, but also with dairy farmers in Eritrea, again with Vita. Teagasc will sign an agreement with the Irish Government's international aid agency, Irish Aid, to bring its expertise to different agricultural areas in Africa and really make a difference.
The director of Teagasc, Professor Gerry Boyle, shows unwavering commitment to sharing Teagasc know-how. "Teagasc and Ireland have had unique success and we are passionate about enabling Africa to have similar success and not to have to wait for generations.”
Teagasc expertise, alongside that of the scientists from the World Potato Centre based in Peru, makes Vita's potato program a winner.
Farmers are getting three times more potatoes from their small one-acre fields, enough to eat and sell the extra.
There are also risks in growing potatoes as Ireland learned so painfully when blight destroyed all the crops in the country, causing millions to perish in the Great Famine from 1845 to 1852.
Teagasc is presently bringing expertise to help Vita fight an outbreak of bacterial wilt, which threatens the food security of farmers.
The three Ph.D. students are inspired by the impact of the Irish potato on the poor farmers they are living with. "Children are able to eat up to 10 potatoes in one meal," said Yenenesh Tewolde, who comes from the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. "Just to see the children flourish and the parents earn money from the extra crops makes all our research so rewarding".
The fact that Vita and its partners intend to support over 1 million farmers in the coming years means that there will be many more inspiring stories of change from hunger to prosperity, thanks to the Irish potato.
Source: allAfrica