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Development of Potato Technology in the Republic of Karelia 2007 - 2009. Development of Potato Technology in the Republic of Karelia 2007 - 2009. Basic information about the project: 2,5 year long combined Tacis-Interreg project, 1/2007–6/2009 Applicant:
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Development of Potato Technology in the Republic of Karelia 2007 - 2009
Development of Potato Technology in the Republic of Karelia 2007 - 2009 Basic information about the project: 2,5 year long combined Tacis-Interreg project, 1/2007–6/2009 Applicant: Ruukki Unit of Agrifood Research Finland (MTT) Project partners: Petrozavodsk State University/Faculty of Agriculture All-Karelian Information-Advisory Service Finnish Seed Potato Center Ltd ProAgria North Karelia NorTech Oulu/University of Oulu Implementation area: Republic of Karelia and Northern Ostrobothnia
Development of Potato Technology in the Republic of Karelia 2007 - 2009 Project is connected to the priority area 2.2. of the EKNP • 2.2. Supports actions, which aim to improve the living conditions of people resident in the region • The aim of the project is to develop the supply of foodstuffs in the Republic of Karelia, in particular potato • Improvements through increased knowledge and international cooperation • How can the Finnish expertise in the potato sector benefit the Karelian farmers and the whole Republic? • What does the Finnish side gain from this cooperation?
Development of Potato Technology in the Republic of Karelia 2007 - 2009 How to improve the potato yields in the Republic of Karelia? • More information about the plant diseases needed • What diseases are found, how can they be controlled? • Are more disease resistant potato varieties needed? • Can the local potato varieties be purified, would some Finnish potato varieties last better in these conditions? • Not just higher yields, but also higher quality • More productive potato varieties to be used, which ones are suitable for Karelia? • Fertilisation recommendations, right amount of nutrients for the right potato and the right soil
Development of Potato Technology in the Republic of Karelia 2007 - 2009 Main actions of the project: • Basic seed bank • Two potato varieties currently in use in Karelia will be cleaned using tissue culture method to form disease free basic seed • The suitability of two Finnish potato varieties to the Karelian production conditions will be tested 2. Diagnostics and prevention methods • The plant disease situation in Karelia will be charted and recommendations will be given how to fight them
Development of Potato Technology in the Republic of Karelia 2007 - 2009 Main actions of the project continued: 3. Otimising the fertilisation and cultivation technology • Fertilisers will be compared – are there differences in the yields, organic vs. chemical • Fertilisation recommendations will be made based on these results
Development of Potato Technology in the Republic of Karelia 2007 - 2009 Major actions by August 2007 1. Field test was set up • Two Finnish and two Russian potato varieties were planted on a farm close to Petrozavodsk • Field test contains an area fertilised with chemical and another one with organic fertilisers • Soil analyses were done in Karelia by the local authorities
Development of Potato Technology in the Republic of Karelia 2007 - 2009 2. Observations and laboratory analyses have started • Researchers from PetrSU carry out weekly observations at the field • Joint observation and sample collecting trip was made in July • Plant material samples and Russian seed potatoes were examined ín Karelia by the local authorities prior the transportation to Finland • Russian seed potatoes are now being purified in Finland • Plant material samples are being examined also in Finland
Development of Potato Technology in the Republic of Karelia 2007 - 2009 Experiences and results by August 2007 • At the mercy of the nature – planting of potatoes can’t wait • Getting the permissions – and on time • Getting the people on the same wavelength – what we are doing and why? • Too early to predict the results of the growth season of 2007 • If the project continues on the same track, set tasks can be acchieved
Development of Potato Technology in the Republic of Karelia 2007 - 2009 How will this project contribute to the development of potato cultivation and economic development in ROK? • More information is gathered about the potato plant disease situation in the pilot farm and in the ROK in general • Recommendations will be made on how to prevent the spreading of these and how to fight them • a publication will be made, the information will be passed to farmers • Finnish potato variaties have been tested in Karelian potato production conditions • If higher and better yields are achieved and are more disease resistant, use of Finnish seeds could improve the yields in ROK • Russian potato varieties have been purified, farmers can purchase and plant clean seeds • Results of the fertilisation experiment will be made into a publication, the information will be passed to farmers