Key Points in Three Minutes
1. Expansion of Acreage
The Ministry of Agriculture (MAG) aims to increase potato plantings to 500 hectares (+23% compared to 2024), covering the market for five months instead of two.
2. From Foreign Seeds to Local Ones
In collaboration with DEAg, Senave, and IPTA, Paraguay is establishing national seed production sites and cold storage facilities. This marks the first real move to break dependence on imported seed material.
3. Family Farms + Technology
Support will continue for the 3,900 families involved in the program. With irrigation, yields reach 30 tons per hectare; without it — 8–10 tons/ha. MAG promotes drip irrigation and hydrogels as the new standard.
Potatoes News Quick Analysis
As reported by Potatoes News (potatoes.news), since 2020 Paraguay has steadily:
- trained farmers in seed production,
- moved potato cultivation to non-traditional regions,
- stabilized seasonal prices through domestic supply.
The current campaign continues this strategy: scale, own genetics, and cold storage development.
Risks and Opportunities at a Glance
Extreme heat remains a key challenge, but testing heat-tolerant varieties and expanding irrigation could reduce losses. If domestic prices stay stable, capital investments are likely to pay off.
Question for Discussion
Which tools — financing, farmer cooperatives, or storage technologies — will be most crucial for Paraguay to maintain five-month potato self-sufficiency beyond 2026?
Based on materials from: argenpapa.com.ar/noticia/15877
