The Cabildo of Lanzarote, through the Department of Agriculture headed by President Oswaldo Betancort, has contracted the service for the sanitation of the local varieties of sweet potato traditionally cultivated on the Island, that is, “la cubana”, “seis meses” and “yema de huevo”. This initiative aims to eradicate viruses and other diseases that affect this crop.
The ultimate goal of this new Cabildo project, aimed at strengthening the primary sector, is that people dedicated to the cultivation of sweet potatoes can continue to cultivate uncontaminated specimens, thus maintaining the quality that characterizes this production from Lanzarote.
Oswaldo Betancort has highlighted the commitment of his government team “to the protection and promotion of cultivation on the island”. He also recalled that sweet potato is an agricultural product of special importance, highly demanded both inside and outside the island for its unsurpassed quality. However, in recent years, Cabildo professionals have detected an increase in damage to these plantations due to the impact of different pathogens; hence, the Institution is currently working to ensure a healthy plant and continue with the traditional cultivation of this product of proven quality.
“It is necessary to take advantage of the existing demand, turning our sanitation project into an opportunity to boost cultivation and ensure the quality of this product recognized throughout the archipelago”, the president stressed.
Sweet Potato Sanitation Service
The scientific work commissioned by the Island Council for the sanitation service of the Lanzarote sweet potato will comprise various technical stages to eliminate any infectious agent and guarantee the production of healthy plant material.
These phases include from the initial selection of plant material, through its analysis using serological procedures to identify the viral load of these. Cultures and in vitro multiplication are also carried out, as well as the final acclimatization of the plants in the nursery, among other works.
Once the plant material has been previously sanitized, 600 rods divided among the three local varieties will be delivered to professionals in the sector to reactivate and strengthen sweet potato production.
The technicians of the Department of Agriculture of the Cabildo of Lanzarote have insisted that, with the increase in the production and consumption of sweet potatoes in recent years, it is essential to carry out this type of procedure to study the impact that the different pathogens are having on the crops and achieve the total elimination of viruses.
