This document discusses potato processing in African countries like Rwanda and Ethiopia. It provides information on current potato production levels, varieties grown, and consumption in the two countries. It also outlines different types of potato products that can be processed and discusses starting a potato processing business. Modeling results on growing conditions and yields in specific regions of Rwanda and Ethiopia are presented. Factors to consider for a successful processing business like competitiveness, meeting product specifications, and market size are also highlighted.

1. On the road to potato processing
in African tropical highlands
Anton Haverkort, Gebremedhin Woldegiorgis
Flip van Koesveld, Senkesha Ntizo,
Romke Wustman, Xiaoyong Zhang

2. Occurrence of potato processing in Africa
?
?
?

3. Ocurrence of potato in Africa
?
?
?

4. Potato processing: types of products
Processed products:
- Starch
- Flour/flakes
- Peeled
- Peeled and cut
- Peeled, cut, blanched
- Baby potatoes
- Frozen fries
- Chilled fries
- Crisps (chips)

5. Potato processing: starting in a country
)

6. French fries from Small food stores

7. “Processing” in Rwanda: sorting, grading,
washing packing

8. Potato processing: Cottage industry

9. Local charm Cruza 148’s blue ring

10. Typical consumers from small food stores

11. Imported Chips

12. Imported Mashed Potatoes

13. Potatoes are ........
=

14. Potatoes are GEMS
P = G x E x M x S
Performance = Genotype x
Environment x
Management x
Society
=

15. Some potato facts of 2 countries
Rwanda Ethiopia
Area ha 160,000 200,000
Yield t/ha 12.5 10.0
Production t 2 million 2 million
Per capita consumption
kg
133 20
Industrial processing 0 0
Main varieties Kinigi, Kigega,
Cruza, Mabondo
Gudene, Jalene,
Balete

16. The weather at Rwanda potato site
Kinigi
2300
masl
Tmax
(0C)
Tmin
(0C)
Daily
radiation
(MJ/m2)
Precipitation
(mm/month
)
ETP
(mm/mont
h)
Jan 20,6 10,6 12,1 50,0 81,0
Feb 20,2 10,5 12,2 120,0 83,0
March 19,9 10,4 12,3 210,0 62,0
April 20,6 10,3 10,1 280,0 59,0
May 20,2 10,6 11,0 205,0 60,0
June 19,9 10,4 11,9 78,0 64,0
July 20,0 10,2 12,0 61,0 67,0
Aug 19,6 11,0 13,3 70,0 65,0
Sep 20,2 10,6 13,3 91,0 73,0
Oct 20,2 10,1 12,8 185,0 77,0
Nov 20,7 10,0 12,1 230,0 76,0
Dec 20,8 9,0 12,6 142,0 79,0

17. The weather at Ethiopian potato site
Addis
2500 masl
Tmax
(°C)
Tmin
(°C)
Solar radiation
(MJ/m²/d)
Rainfall
mm/month
ETP
mm/month
Jan 23 7 21.20 20 78
Feb 24 8 22.60 30 79
March 25 10 22.70 80 84
Apr 24 11 23.60 95 83
May 23 11 23.10 55 80
June 23 11 20.40 100 70
July 20 10 18.60 245 60
Aug 20 10 18.40 265 50
Sept 21 10 20.70 120 150
October 22 8 22.80 45 30
November 23 7 22.60 10 15.0
December 23 7 21.50 12 14.0

18. Modeling results Rwanda
Characteristic modelled
Kinigi 2300 masl
April 1 – August 1
Musanze 900
masl
April 1- July 10
Growing period (days) 122 100
Days between planting and emergence 13 12
Days between emergence and 100% ground
cover
42 37
Days between 100% ground cover and
harvest
67 51
DM tuber yield (ton DM/ha) 9.7 10.7
Attainable fresh tuber yield at 20 % dry
matter
48.5 53.5
Precipitation between planting and harvest 610 311
ETP between planting and harvest 184 181
Accumulated precipitation deficit (mm) 3 130
Irrigation need (mm) 13 50
Irrigation need per ton fresh potato (mm) 0.27 0.98

19. Modeling results Ethiopia
Characteristic modelled
Belg
Short rains
15/3-5/7
Meher
Long rains
1/6-20/9
Winter
Dry
1/12-20/3
Growing period (days) 112 110 109
Days between planting and emergence 14 15 14
Days between emergence and 100%
ground cover 37 41 36
Days between 100% ground cover and
harvest 61 54 59
DM tuber yield (ton DM/ha) 16.4 13.5 12.3
Attainable fresh tuber yield (ton/ha) 73.8 60.9 55.5
Soil field capacity (mm water / m soil) 120 120 120
Irrigation point (mm water / m soil) 100 100 100
Precipitation between planting and
harvest 337 676 112
ETP between planting and harvest 198 194 197
Accumulated precipitation deficit (mm) 13 5 94
Soil water reserve (mm) 8 8 8
Irrigation need mm/season 5 -3 86
Irrigation need per ton fresh potato
(mm) 0.14 0 3.0

20. Price setting of potato
USD/kg Rwanda Ethiopia
Dry season
Ethiopia
Rainy
season
Production costs at
actual yield
0.122 0.102
Farm gate price 0.215 0.241 0.134
Collectors 0.223 0.251 0.144
Wholesale price USD/kg 0.261 0.267 0.160
Retail in capital USD/kg 0.277 0.294 0.187
Consumer USD/kg 0.308 0.320 0.194
Storage Not
profitable
Not
profitable
Profitable (in
soil)

21. Recovery 50 %:1 kg Potatoes = 0.5 kg French Fries
Raw material:100 ha x 15 T/ha = 1.500 T processing
potatoes
750 t French fries for the market in the 1st year
Vegetable oil content 5-7 % (crisps: 30%)
Investment processing line: >1.3 M USD (modules)
100 ha of production requires 250 t of seed
Organize seed, contracts storage
Waste (water)
Farmers’skills
Some business deliberations

22. Frozen potato products and raw material for crisps have
become global commodities
To be competitive farm gate price less than 150 USD
per ton; availabilit year-round
Yields should be at least 25 t/ha in e.g. Rwanda and
Ethiopia
Meeting specs: colour, L/W, DMC, Reducing sugars
(McFry?)
Ethiopia or Rwanda ? Consider yields, sunshine,
irrigation, storage and size of the market (capital)
Competitiveness of raw material in Africa

23. Remember:
Thank you
Last slide
=