Bolivia: Potato imports reduced by 80%
The country went from importing 100 thousand tons of the tuber to only 20 thousand.
Bolivia has drastically reduced its potato imports, from more than 100,000 tons in previous years to just 20,000 tons in 2024, reported Deputy Minister of Agricultural Development Álvaro Mollinedo. The decrease, according to the official, is due to the use of certified seeds, technologies applied to the crop, and the sustained efforts of Bolivian farmers.
“Until last year, we imported more than 100,000 tons. Now we’ve only registered 20,000. This is because we’ve improved our production, and we’ll almost certainly stop importing potatoes. We’re aiming for sovereignty in this area,” Mollinedo stated during an official event in La Paz.
The information was provided during the certificate presentation ceremony for the "Advanced Course in Commercial and Native Potato Production," organized by the Ministry of Rural Development and Lands. The event also served to highlight the government’s investments in strengthening the sector.
"We have invested in technology, inputs, and training. We now have trained technicians who can support producers across the country," the deputy minister explained.
CERTIFIED SEEDS
One of the pillars of this progress is the National Tubers and Roots Program, which promotes the use of certified seeds and modern agricultural practices. Thanks to this plan, potato yields per hectare have increased significantly: in the highlands, they reach 54 tons per hectare (t/ha), in the valleys, 65 t/ha, and in mesothermal climate zones, up to 90 t/ha.
Mollinedo emphasized that if current projections hold, Bolivia will not only stop importing potatoes, but could also generate surpluses for export. "With certified seeds, technology, and technical assistance, we are transforming our agriculture. Food security is not a slogan: it is built through sustained technical work," he concluded.
GROWTH
According to Ministry data, the country consumes nearly 1 million tons of potatoes annually, so growth in national production represents a key step toward food self-sufficiency.
TRAINING
Vice Minister Álvaro Mollinedo reported that 175 public servants were trained in potato production and marketing through a 52-hour online course. The goal is to strengthen technical support for the agricultural sector and transmit this knowledge to producers.
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