Potato Industry Development Trust (PIDT)

The Potato Industry Development Trust (PIDT) was established in 2004 and is funded through the statutory levy collected across South Africa’s potato value chain. The PIDT channels that income into research, transformation and training through Potatoes South Africa (Potatoes SA), the Pretoria-based non-profit organisation that represents the country’s potato producers.

Registered name

Potato Industry Development Trust (PIDT)

Type

Industry trust (agriculture, levy-funded)

Fields funded

Agricultural economics, agronomy, plant or crop production and soil science

Website

potatoes.co.za

The country’s largest fresh vegetable crop

Potatoes are South Africa’s largest fresh vegetable crop, and Potatoes SA describes itself as the collective voice of potato producers and the go-to authority for the sector. Potatoes SA’s aim is a viable industry in which growers thrive and innovation flourishes, and it promotes collaboration through regular forums and committees.

Research, information and transformation

Potatoes SA funds and showcases research in breeding and genetics, disease management, crop protection and sustainable farming, with particular attention to the effects of climate change on potato production. Potatoes SA also runs an industry information service and app that give growers timely market data during production and marketing seasons.

On transformation, Potatoes SA supports economic empowerment and skills development for farmers, processors and other participants, and runs a four-year Enterprise Development Programme that gives developing producers financial aid.

The bursary programme

Because potato production depends on agronomists, plant scientists and agricultural economists, the PIDT funds students directly rather than leaving the skills pipeline to chance. The 2027 call offered four bursaries in agricultural economics, agronomy, plant or crop production, soil science and other potato-relevant studies, for undergraduates entering second year or later, and for BTech, honours, master’s and PhD students.

Bursars must work for a potato-industry organisation, company or institution after graduating for as long as they were funded. The 2027 round closed on 31 August 2026, and the 2028 round should open around June or July 2027.

How to research the trust

Download the Potatoes SA industry app to follow market trends, and read the research section to choose a relevant topic for postgraduate study. With only four awards a year, strong marks and a clear link to potatoes matter. Ask potato farmers in regions such as Limpopo, the Free State or the Sandveld about vacation work.

Potato-industry graduates work as agronomists advising growers, as researchers in seed and disease programmes, as economists tracking markets, and on large commercial farms and processing plants.

See also the SASCP bursary.