The demand for seed potatoes means that trading houses have to look for sufficient seed potatoes. Due to the wet harvest season, not every batch is suitable for shipping. What does that mean for the export position of the Netherlands?
On November 1, a total of 58.211 tons of seed potatoes had been certified by the NAK. This means that certification is 10.637 tonnes behind 2016. It is not due to the demand for starting material, thinks Jan Eggo Hommes of the Nak. "There is a lot of demand, but availability is sometimes a problem. Growers have focused a lot on outdoor work in recent weeks. In addition, the seed potatoes must be dry. This is not the case everywhere."
More reduction
The reduction percentage increased to 18% at the beginning of November. The inspection service has now examined 81% of the total tubers to be examined. The NAK took 18.500 samples, representing 3,7 million tubers and 93% of the estimated total.
A significantly higher reduction percentage is recorded during the follow-up check. In 2015, that percentage was 14,8%. After last year's dry harvest, this was only 7,8%. In 2014 and 2013 the percentages were even lower.
Problems with sorting
Wet weather and mother tubers, which were difficult to rot, delayed the harvesting work. The potters came later in the box, with more soil and are therefore not always dry. Trading houses indicate that it is a problem to obtain lots that are free of land. Wet rot is also encountered during sorting.
Early destinations passed
Reduced availability of seed potatoes has meant that trading houses have literally missed the boat to early destinations such as Cuba, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Sorting is now underway for the 'regular' and major export countries in Africa.
It is not only the Dutch export sector that faces obstacles. The potato harvest is also lagging behind in Scotland. According to insiders, only a small part still needs to be cleared in the north of the Netherlands. This concerns companies in North Holland, Friesland and Groningen.