A number of Irish potato farmers in North Manchester are expecting a significant decrease in the yield of their crop, which is due in six weeks time. This is due to a batch of diseased seeds that was supplied to the Christiana potato growers Co-operative Association Limited (the Coop) by a Dutch exporter.
A batch of "bad seeds" bearing the serial number 12182 were investigated by local plant experts who inspected the growth from 580 bags planted on 20 acres and discovered the pathogen which will reduce the yield by approximately 60%.
"From November 2002 to June 2003, many farmers in the potato growing areas complained of the poor quality they received from our supplies in Holland. Investigations from our office revealed that the 2003 problem is here again and the same farmer number is the same number associated with the bad seeds this year," said the General Manager for the Coop, Alvin Murray.
Mr. Murray pointed out however, that in 2003 there was a different importer from the coop and the farmers were not compensated.
This time he said the matter has been reported to the Dutch Supplier of the seed and the farmers must be compensated.
Farmers weekly were shown correspondence between the coop and the Dutch exporter expressing regret and an agreement to compensate the farmers.
The claim on the farmers’ behalf is for 380 bags of seeds and a collective 20 acres at a cost of 160 thousand dollars per acre. The Coop has release this information for transparency as on the previous occasion the Dutch suppliers claimed to have paid full compensation, which the farmers did not receive.
