NEW VARIETY OF POTATO GENERATING HANDSOME RETURNS FOR TERENGGANU FARMERS

KUALA TERENGGANU (Terengganu, Malaysia), July 26 (Bernama) -- Vitato, a new
variety of potato, has replaced tobacco as the primary crop of the east coast
state of Terengganu as it has caught the attention of farmers for providing
handsome returns on cultivation.

The Terengganu State Farmers Organisation (PPNT) has taken several measures
focusing on making Vitato-farming more preferable among the farmers.

To ensure the quality, the Farmers Organisation Authority (LPP) has
allocated RM70,000 (US$23,333) this year for farmers of Kerandang PPK (Area
Farmers Organisation), Gong Nangka in Besut to plant Vitato on four hectares of
land.

State LPP Director Shamsuddin Mat Rani said the measures to boost the
cultivation of this crop were aimed at improving the income of farmers.

He added that the Vitato project was started in 2007 year-end
at Pelagat and Setiu PPKs. By 2011, the project has expanded to cover an area of
135 hectares, with 162 participants.

LPP’S SAPLING FARMS

He said some two million Vitato saplings can be produced in a season and
each 'bud' is sold to farmers at three sen.

"A plant can produce 8-10 shoots, the first harvest can be done after 10
weeks and the second one, four weeks after the first harvest," Shamsuddin
noted.

He said the LPP has so far developed three Vitato sapling farms in Besut as
the district’s soil is suitable for its growth. LPP had tried cultivating
Vitato in other districts like Marang, but failed due to unsuitability of the
soil.

VITATO MINI ESTATES

About 2,484.44 metric tonnes of Vitato were produced from 2008 until 2010,
which was worth RM1,760,353.71 (US$586,666), he noted.

In 2010, Terengganu LPP launched a pioneering project to plant Vitato at
Dendong PPK in Kerandan, which produced 20 tonnes of Vitato per hectare.

From this year, the LPP began implementing the project through mini estates
as this system was much easier to manage. Moreover, the new system had raised
the harvest by 12 more tonnes per hectare.

A Vitato-processing plant worth over RM4.8 million (US$1.6 million) has been
constructed to turn Vitato into flour and puree.

Vitato contains Beta carotene. It can be eaten boiled, steamed, fried or
roasted. It can also be turned into fritters, cakes, buns and muffins.

TERENGGANU BIGGEST VITATO PRODUCER

Shamsuddin said so far Terengganu was the biggest producer of Vitato and the
planting of the crop would be expanded statewide in case of more demand from the
farmers.

He said Vitato can be planted on many types of soil, including the peat soil
and former mining land. PPNT has jointly conducted a research on Vitato with
Mardi and at the same time Nestle found a niche market for it in the retail and
industrial segment.

Pelagat PPK general manager Zakaria Ibrahim said Vitato can provide handsome
returns to farmers. For example members of Keradang PPK who participate in the
Vitato mini estate project could earn between RM2,000 ((US$667) and RM15,000
((US$5,000) a month, depending on the acreage.

GENERATING MORE INCOME

He said that Vitato had now emerged as the primary crop for Keradang
PPK, replacing tobacco, whose cultivation has been discontinued.

"We are grateful to the State Farmers Organisation for helping our
farmers in the cultivation of Vitato," he said.

Zakaria added that last year alone Kerandang PPK had harvested 319.9 tonnes
of Vitato worth RM270,870(about US$90,000), while so far this year the harvest
has reached 202 tonnes, worth more than RM216,000 (US$72,000).
-- BERNAMA