Nearly half of Ireland's potato production is now in the hands of 50 growers, the national potato census has found. The number of hectares planted in 2003 was virtually unchanged at 13,725, representing a marginal increase of 2 per cent over 2002's figures.
The Bord Glas survey found the industry continued to stabilise in 2003, with the overall production area and number of growers changing only marginally. "The industry also continues to be more concentrated with a small number of large-scale growers producing maincrop varieties with the majority of production based in Leinster," said a statement from the board.
Some of the principal trends that emerged from the census which was compiled in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture and Food were:
the number of hectares planted in 2003 was virtually unchanged;
there were 801 potato growers in Ireland, a 4 per cent drop on 2002;
this reduction had come from growers with smaller holdings;
the largest 50 growers now account for 46 per cent of total production area;
and in terms of varieties grown, maincrop potatoes accounted for 74 per cent of total production area.