A passport to established potato markets

The export of potatoes has been going on for a very long time. Some contend that we have been exporting potatoes for over 100 years. The export of potatoes has undergone various changes since its inception. From the export of potatoes in wooden barrels to the export in refrigerated containers. From practically no grading whatsoever to the grading machines and from weighing the potatoes in the fields by the famous stasija to the automatic weighing and filling machines. From using the standard 25 kilo bags to the jumbo bags with a capacity of over one metric ton.

Anyway the central figure in all these changes has always been the Maltese grower.

The traditional potato grower in the Maltese islands has managed to adapt himself (and his methods of growing) with relative ease. This does not mean there was no resistance but that once the grower was convinced that these changes were, after all, to his advantage he cooperated and did his part with relative enthusiasm. These changes were implemented in such a way that we have managed to keep the status of the quality of Malta potatoes at its high peak, especially in the sophisticated Dutch market, with relative ease notwithstanding the harsh competition from potato growers from the Mediterranean basin. In fact, early potatoes in the Dutch market are widely known as Maltas no matter the origin because early potatoes in this market are synonym with Malta-grown potatoes.

Potatoes grown in the red soil are the flagship of such export. The superb taste of our potatoes, apart from the golden-coloured skin, has been the main reason for this big demand for Malta potatoes. So much so that, to a certain extent, even potatoes grown in clayish soil have also managed to find their place in European potato markets. But, as always, change is never static. We have to keep improving our methods of cultivation in all directions in order to maintain and possibly improve the high standard of potatoes grown in these islands.

The latest change has been the introduction of the Eurogap Protocol Certification in the growing of potatoes for export. The Eurogap certificate is a standard respected and demanded by the major importers of potatoes on the European continent. Having the Eurogap certificate is the passport or rather the key to established potato markets a well as new emerging markets.

The Eurogap certification was introduced last year and a number of Maltese officers were trained in the method and manner on how to implement this protocol. At the same time a number of potato growers were selected to implement the Eurogap standards. Thanks to the enthusiasm of these officers coupled with the cooperation of our growers we succeeded in having over 100 growers being given this highly esteemed certificate. This has proved a big success; in fact, in bigger countries the rate of implementation was (and still is) at a much slower rate. To prove the adaptability of the local market a much bigger number of potato growers are being certified this year.

It is in this manner that we can guarantee the future of our potato export. I hope this could also serve as a model in the export of other agricultural produce now that our market is the whole of the EU market with a population of over 450 million people. If we follow the same pattern of the potato export - being able to provide what the market demands - we stand a good change of enhancing our agricultural production with the possibility of exports.

Dr Agius is Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture and Fisheries.