W46 Potato Update: Russia’s Potato Harvest Increases, but European Potato Growers Face Challenges in the 2022/23 Season

Russia Records Increased Potato Harvest

In W46 in the potato landscape, the potato harvest season in the Ivanovo region of Russia has ended production with a nearly 20% year-over-year (YoY) increase. The overall results of the potato harvesting campaign in the area show that agricultural enterprises and farms gathered 23.4 thousand tons of potatoes, a significant increase of 19.4% YoY. Potato growers in the region are improving crop yields through modern cultivation practices influenced by the adoption of protective equipment and technology.

In Russia, the Ryazan Region's Ministry of Agriculture and Food reports that potato harvest has ended, with higher potato and vegetable yields expected in 2023. Potatoes have been harvested in 86% of the area, yielding 104.7 thousand tons of tubers and 438.8 centners (c) per hectare (ha).

Potatoes have been harvested from 2.3 thousand ha in the Kaliningrad Region of Russia, covering 91% of the harvested area. With an average yield of 291 c/ha, 68.6 thousand tons of potatoes have been dug up, with 22.9 thousand tons sold as of November 13. The leading potato-producing areas include Ozyorskoye with 16.1 thousand tons, Gvardeysky with 14 thousand tons, and Slavsk with 11.8 thousand tons. According to the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia's departmental monitoring data, as of November 8, the average cost of potatoes from regional producers was USD 0.19 per kilogram (RUB 16.36/kg).

Peru Boosts Potato Industrialization to Stimulate Investment and Agro-Industrial Development

Peru has enacted a law promoting potato industrialization to stimulate investment and agro-industrial developments. The Ministry of Agricultural Development and Irrigation (Midagri) will provide technical assistance to producers, promote certified seeds, and promote awareness campaigns for Peruvian potatoes. Peru is the leading potato producer in Latin America, with a production volume of 6 million metric tons (mmt) in 2022. The Peruvian state will facilitate financing programs for potato industrialization in collaboration with regional and local governments.

Bangladesh Government Initiates Subsidized Sale of Onions in Dhaka City from November 14

The Bangladesh government has announced plans to sell onions, potatoes, lentils, and soybean oil at subsidized prices in Dhaka City Corporation starting November 14. The subsidized potato price was USD 0.27/kg (BDT 30/kg). The Commerce Secretary announced that customers can purchase 2 kg of each item per day, benefiting 9 thousand customers daily.

Tajikistan Exceeds 790 Thousand Tons of Potato Harvest in 2023

Tajikistan has harvested over 790 thousand tons of potatoes in the first ten months of 2023, yielding 240 c/ha. Experts predict that total potato production will exceed 900 thousand tons in 2023. Potatoes were planted on over 33.5 thousand ha of land, with an estimated total production of 1 million tons. The country's warehouses currently hold around 660 thousand tons, with 168 thousand tons being potatoes. The potato prices in W46 in Tajikistan's markets stood at USD 0.37 to 0.55/kg (TJS 4 to 6/kg).

European Potato Growers Face Challenges

Potato growers in West Flanders in Belgium face significant challenges due to excessive rainfall, making it difficult to harvest potatoes. The muddy soil and clay in the region contribute to the issue, causing delays and potential long-term impacts. Newer potato farmers are particularly vulnerable, and the government was urged to recognize these weather conditions as a disaster and provide compensation, especially for those who may be particularly vulnerable.

The potato industry in Ireland and the United Kingdom (UK) faces significant crop losses due to flooded fields and unpredictable weather. The potato crop, a staple food for Irish and British consumers, has turned into "rotten butter" and is unsuitable for animal feed. The Irish Potato Association predicts a potential potato shortage in 2023.

In the Netherlands, heavy rainfall creates financial difficulties for the potato harvest in Zeeland, where arable farmers face challenges in harvesting potatoes due to muddy conditions and problems with agricultural machines. Extreme rainfall in North Limburg reportedly prevented the harvest of approximately 10% of the crop from the land in 2023. The adverse weather conditions are impacting the potato harvest and posing challenges for farmers in these regions.