POTENTIAL MARKETS OF POTATO IN NICARAGUA

Abstract

The present study was carried out in July 2008, with the
purpose to analyze potato marketing key data at country
level. The study was carried out in eight municipal markets
in order to produce information that could be available to
farmers and others people who are interested in making social
economic decisions concerning potato production. To carry
out this study, written information from agricultural sources
was used, as well as direct sources and key informants from
eight municipal markets from a universe of 292 stalls, out of
which 131 were selected as sample. The variables of the study
focused on supply and demand, design and type of demand,
quality and market windows at different times of the year.
The results indicate that fresh potato production in Nicaragua
is deficient compared to global demand, with a per-capita
consumption of 8 kilograms (17.6 pounds) yearly. This means
that the country relies on imports that range 40% mostly from
Central American to meet the deficit that occurs every year.
The unmet demand was projected starting from 2010 to 2018
considering the domestic production, the type of demand, per
capita consumption, and marketing viability. The outcome
shows a decreasing tendency with respect to importation by
replacing importation by domestic production. This indicates
that demand and the good prices that this products could get
in the markets is attractive to farmers attractive from the
economical point of view. The local farmers will be stimulated
in the future to increase the area planted and the yield per unit
area, reducing the need to import. Central America, Nicaragua
is the country with the higher number of appropriate land to
plant different products. However, potato production recorded
lower yield per unit area and countries due to low seed quality,
inadequate farming methods and techniques, inadequate
control of pests and diseases and post harvest management.
The shortages windows market of potato occur from May
to July and from October to December. About the qualities
of the potato, the distributors stated that potatoes must be
wholesome, clean, and big. And about the characteristics of
the domestic potatoes, the survey highlighted resistance to
manipulation, yield, and the long life of the product. Among
the failing, they mentioned dirtiness, and small size of the
product. The opinion about characteristics of the imported
potatoes, it is focus on cleanliness, size, and selection of the
product. There is a potential market because the demand of
potatoes is not fulfilled. Nicaragua imports more than 40%
of the potato that is consumed in Nicaragua. There is land
apt for potato production (Estelí, Matagalpa, Jinotega), and
little competition in the internal production. It is an attractive
product for business because of its acceptability, profitability
and there is a tendency to increase the consumption per capita
due to its nutritional value and its importance in the national
feeding safety.

Keywords: Potential potato market; demand and projection;
yields; market window; quality of the product.

DOI: 10.5377/calera.v9i13.15