Potato growers, packers and processors in NI have been asked to contribute financially towards a three-year promotional campaign designed to stimulate local potato consumption.

The call has come from the NI stakeholder potato promotion group, a body chaired by Ulster Farmers’ Union deputy president, Ivor Ferguson, and co-ordinated by ex-DARD official, Ian Duff.

The group was set up last year in response to promotional campaigns in Britain and the Republic of Ireland, designed to increase potato consumption in their home markets. If the NI industry can get the necessary funding in place, there is the possibility that additional funds could be accessed from government.

To ensure that a programme is up and running by next autumn, the stakeholder group has asked for financial support to be made available by 1 March. Ware growers are asked to contribute £6/acre grown, packers and processors £6/acre or 40p/t, grower packers £9/acre and seed growers £3/acre. To deliver a professional campaign, the group needs to raise at least £40,000 per year.

Asking growers to back the initiative, Richard Orr, chair of Comber Earlies Co-operative, said: “I know production costs are significant for growers, but there is an opportunity to try to buck the trend of falling consumption. There are ads for rice and pasta on television at every turn. We must do some promotion ourselves. If we all stand together, it is much more doable,” he said.

Recent figures suggested that potato consumption in NI was down 7.5% in 2013/14 from the previous year.

Thurs 12 February

  • John Deere open day at Agri-Power, Omagh, 12pm to 10pm.

    • Fri 13 February

  • Suckler cows and heifers, 21 head for George Milliken, West of Ireland in-calf heifers, 18 head for Ronnie Wilson, Ballymena Mart, 11am.
  • Mobile health screening unit, Draperstown Mart, Cahore Road, 11am to 3pm.
  • The John Deere story with George Conn, Baptist Hall, Crossgar Road, Saintfield. 7.45pm.
  • Traditional fruit orchards on farms and CMS CAFRE training workshop, Loughry Campus, Cookstown. To register, TN 9442 6770.

    • Mon 16 February

  • Mobile health screening unit, Armoy Mart, 6.30pm to 11pm.
  • DARD meeting finance on dairy farms with Cormac McKervey, Ulster Bank and Alan Hopps, DARD/CAFRE Loughry Campus, Cookstown, 8pm.

    • Tues 17 February

  • Open evening on beekeeping, Dromore, (Down), High School, 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

    • Wed 18 February

  • CAFRE practical on-farm renewable energy event, Enniskillen Campus, 1pm to 9pm.
  • Sinn Féin Agricultural and Rural Road Show, Tullyglass Hotel, Ballymena, 7.30pm.

    • Thurs 19 February

  • Meeting on proposed rural proofing bill, Old Town Hall, Banbridge, 7pm to 9pm. Register to attend TN 9052 4106.

    • Fri 20 February

  • Slatequarry Fleckvieh, 20 calved heifers, 10 genomic bulls, 20 heifer calves, Dungannon Mart, 12pm.
  • DARD meeting on proposed rural proofing bill, Community Building, Garvagh, 11.30am to 1.30pm. Register to attend TN 9052 4106.
  • Traditional fruit orchards on farms and CMS CAFRE Training workshop, Enniskillen campus and Lesley Campbell’s farm. To register, TN 9442 6770.

    • Sat 21 February

  • Mobile health screening unit, Ballymena Mart machinery sale, 10am to 4pm.