Most potatoes in Tasmania are grown in a wide strip along the north west coast from the Circular Head municipality, through to the Northern Midlands municipality south of Launceston, together with sections of the Dorset municipality in the north east.
Production in 1999-2000 (267,000 tonnes) was only slightly less than that of Victoria (295,000 tonnes) and South Australia (281,000 tonnes).
Potatoes are the single most valuable crop grown in Tasmania. Recently, Tasmania's potato farmers gained a $36-a-tonne price increase, reinforcing the value of the crop.
POTATOES, Tasmania
|
| Production | | Area | | Yield |
| | | | | |
Years ended 31 March | '000 t | | ha | | t/ha |
|
1996 | 302 | | 7,565 | | 39.9 |
1997 | 317 | | 7,436 | | 42.7 |
1998 | 374 | | 8,344 | | 44.8 |
1999 | 327 | | 7,611 | | 43.0 |
2000(a) | 267 | | 5,690 | | 47.0 |
(a) Year ended 30 June.
Source: Agriculture, Australia (Cat. no. 7113.0). |