Following the threats poised on potato production in the country, a Plateau State-based potatoes company has commenced the training of  farmers on how to contain the  ravaging effect on their farmers.

Potatoes blight, a disease caused by fungus-like organism that spreads rapidly in the foliage and tubers of potatoes, was said to have been first recorded in 2014 in Plateau State.

It destroyed over 1,000 hectares of potato farms in Plateau State.

Speaking at the occasion on Thursday, the Management Director of Vicampro Farms, Agbogbo Michael, said the potatoes industry in Plateau State can be one of the biggest in the country, but lamented that the disease has brought a setback to achieving that goal.

Michael said: “The training has become imperative in order to fight the scourge, which has caused devastating effect on farmers in the state.

“Vicampro would continue to partner with farmers in the state to boost food production in the country.

“We believe that partnership can help our organisation and industry to achieve more.

“Vicampro is leading the way in developing the Irish potatoes value chain and we believe that agriculture is a great business that can also be professional as any other white collar job.”

The Chief Operating Officer of Vicampro, Ludo Wentholt, while delivering his lecture, advised potatoes farmers against inter-cropping, stressing that planting potatoes and corn makes spraying fungicides from preventing the blight difficult.

Wentholt said planting potatoes in water logged area makes the plants weaker and more susceptible for blight.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Linda Barau, said potato blight has been a problem to farmers in the state in the past four years.

Barau said: “The state government is committed to find lasting solution to the disease as the state has appealed to the Federal Government to assist the state.