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Potatoes SA, through its Transformation division, hosted an educational exposure visit to view seed potato production in Christiana, North West. The visit brought together 12 potato producers from five provinces: five from KwaZulu-Natal, three from the Eastern Cape, two from the Western Cape, one from Mpumalanga, and one from North West. Eight of these producers are Potatoes SA Enterprise Development Programme (EDP) beneficiaries.
The group also included three government officials from KwaZulu-Natal, eight Potatoes SA staff members from the Transformation, Marketing and Information divisions, and one former Potatoes SA bursary recipient. The diverse group provided an opportunity for producers, government representatives, industry stakeholders, and Potatoes SA staff to engage and share knowledge regarding seed potato production.
The purpose was to give producers a better understanding of the seed potato value chain and to demonstrate the detailed processes involved in producing high-quality seed potatoes. The programme showed that quality seed production begins long before potatoes reach the farm, requiring careful scientific methods, strict quality standards, and specialised management.
On-site visits and insights
The first visit was to Rascal Seed Research Laboratories, where participants learned about the early stages of seed potato production. Producers observed how tissue culture is used to produce disease-free planting material and how selected potato clones are developed into mini tubers. They also saw how hydroponic and aeroponic systems are used in controlled greenhouse environments to produce healthy, high-quality seed potatoes.
The exposure visit continued to the farm, where producers gained practical knowledge of seed multiplication and the grading, handling, and packaging of G2 seed potatoes. G2 seed is produced under carefully controlled conditions and cannot be planted in just any environment. The seed progresses through different generations before G3 seed becomes suitable for commercial open-field production.
A key message throughout the visit was the importance of using certified seed potatoes. Certified seed offers better quality, improved disease control, and higher production potential, giving producers confidence that they are planting reliable, healthy seed. Participants also learned about the importance of proper storage, noting that certified seed is stored in temperature-controlled facilities at approximately 4 to 6°C to maintain its quality and vigour before planting.
The programme concluded with an interactive roundtable discussion at the WesGrow boardroom. Producers engaged directly with seed production specialists, asking practical questions about haulm management, seed quality, and production practices. The discussion helped producers better understand how healthy crop development and quality seed contribute to improved potato yields and sustainable production.
Impact and looking ahead
The exposure visit provided valuable insight into the science, technology, and expertise behind certified seed potato production while helping them connect these practices to their own farming operations. The visit also highlighted the important role that knowledge, quality seed, and good agricultural practices play in building successful and sustainable potato farming enterprises.
The visit is part of Potatoes SA’s ongoing commitment to empowering producers through practical learning, knowledge sharing, and strong partnerships across the potato industry. The collaboration between Potatoes SA, WesGrow, and Rascal showed how working together can help producers gain knowledge, develop their skills, and build more successful farming businesses.
Potatoes SA sincerely thanks WesGrow for hosting the exposure visit and generously sharing their knowledge, experience, and expertise with participating producers. Their contribution plays an important role in developing skilled, informed, and successful potato producers in South Africa. – Sifiso Mhlanga and Dikgetho Mokoena, Potatoes SA