By Joanie Berg
Potatoes SA has implemented a number of projects in the Sandveld and the Eastern Cape over the past year to better equip potato farmers to farm sustainably, including the renewal of the aphid project in the Sandveld, the establishment of five weather stations in the Eastern Cape, and the development of new cultivars.
At a recent meeting hosted by Potatoes SA in Aurora in the Western Cape, Francois Strauss, regional coordinator for the Western and Eastern Cape, said that these projects were aimed at supporting farmers in their daily decisions and to promote the sustainability of the industry.
Aphid monitoring in the Sandveld
Aphid monitoring in the Sandveld was once a valuable resource for potato farmers, Strauss explained. The project was discontinued in 2022 following the death of Kobus Laubscher, who had been leading the initiative. Previously, farmers received weekly reports on the presence of various aphid species, which helped them assess the level of infestation on their own farms and understand its impact on the Sandveld as a whole. Since Laubscher’s death, these reports have ceased.
“At the request of the Sandveld Potato Producers’ Association, Potatoes SA has renewed this project in collaboration with InteliGro, a provider of integrated crop solutions.”
Thanks to the support of the local farming community and others, Strauss said, the project was able to gain new momentum.
“Weekly data will now be collected and sent to a central point, where it will be analysed to identify aphid species and count their numbers. This data will then be made freely available to all farmers to help them manage the aphid threat in a timely manner.”
There are four monitoring stations in the Sandveld, located between Malmesbury and Leipoldtville. According to Strauss, this network could be expanded in the future if the demand for more information increases.
“The monitoring stations track aphid pressure across a larger area, providing farmers with a critical advantage in managing the pest. With InteliGro’s collaboration, farmers can be confident that the data collected is both accurate and reliable. This is a significant benefit for farmers in controlling aphids in their crops.”
Weather stations
In 2024, Potatoes SA installed five solar-powered weather stations on farms in the Khowa (Elliot), Ugie and Nqanqarhu (Maclear) districts to improve disease forecasting and management in the potato industry. Villa supplied the weather stations, and Metos SA oversees the management, software and forecasting.
The weather stations monitor key environmental factors such as temperature, humidity and other climatic conditions that can promote the development of potato diseases.
“The data collected will play a crucial role in predicting potential disease outbreaks and implementing proactive measures,” Strauss says. “This information will be made available to all farmers involved in the project, enabling them to collectively implement the appropriate control measures before an outbreak occurs.”
The weather stations will eventually be able to provide more accurate forecasts, helping farmers make informed long-term decisions about planting, irrigation, and which diseases to target.
Cultivar development
Another key focus for Potatoes SA is the ongoing development of new potato cultivars, particularly in the Ugie district.
“In collaboration with potato farmers and seed potato suppliers, trials are being conducted to identify the best cultivars for various climate and soil conditions,” Strauss says. “The goal of these trials is to develop new cultivars that are not only resistant to diseases but also capable of delivering higher yields and better quality tailored to the specific conditions of each area.
“These trials are crucial for the sustainability of the industry, and provide farmers with the opportunity to select the most suitable cultivars for their specific environments.”
