POTATO PRODUCTION

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVII, Issue 4460, 21 October 1933, Page 6

POTATO PRODUCTION

SOUTHERN SUPPLIES SHOW BIG DROP Figures published showing the decline in the shipments of Canterbury potatoes to the North Island this season are of some concern to southern growers. In the present season to date only 96,080 sacks have been shipped from Lyttelton, as against 142,586 last season, 247,997 in 1931, and 279,409 in 1930. It would seem from these figures that Canterbury’s dependence on the North Island for an outlet is rapidly approaching extinction point, for 100,000 sacks represent little more than 10 per cent, of the North and Mid-Canterbury output. It is rather unfortunate that just when the seed certification movement is commencing to produce a better potato that the principal market should so markedly decline. Higher yields will be an immediate outcome of seed certification, so the problem may be aggravated, as it will be difficult to persuade growers to reduce their acreages.

The reason for the rapid change is not difficult to find. The drop in dairy produce values forced many North Island dairymen to plant a few acres of potatoes, and the result was that the local retail stores were fully supplied. Grocery accounts were more than, “squared” in many instances and cash obtained into the bargain. Possibly when butter-fat gets back to 1/3 or so a pound northern dairymen will lose some of their enthusiasm for potato growing, but until then Canterbury growers, it would seem, will have to reconcile themselves to a diminished outlet.