18 October 2007
Mr. Trevor Sargent T.D., Minister for Food and Horticulture at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food today announced that, “Ireland will provide significant funding, starting with an initial payment of $150,000, to support the activities of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), which is the lead United Nations’ agency for implementation of the International Year of the Potato.”
Minister Sargent added, “Funding provided by Ireland will go to support FAO activities. Activities will include information generation and dissemination through conferences and symposia to review research policies and chart the future direction of the sector. This will include a major conference run by the International Potato Centre in Peru in March 2008 focusing on the application of potato science for the poor. It is hoped to encourage action throughout the developing world to focus on potato systems including crop yields, extension training on improved varieties and production systems.”
Minister Sargent noted the central role the potato has played in Irish History. The failure of the crop due to potato blight in 1845 led to a famine that left 1.5 million dead and a further 1 million citizens forced to emigrate. “Irish people have a deep memory of the effects of famine on our nation” declared Minister Sargent. “Our history means we are acutely aware of the need to focus on the potato and the vital role that agriculture can play in improving nutrition and supporting food security”.
Calling for a renewed emphasis on the potato, and on practical activities to increase its contribution to world food security, Minister Sargent noted that Irish Aid had already provided €520,000 to the International Potato Centre (CIP) in Peru. This funding will be used to support core research activities and to support a potato research programme run by CIP in Malawi. Further funding will be provided in subsequent years.
