[Korean Farmers' Newspaper Reporter Du-hyun Lee] This year, the production of highland potatoes in Gangwon Province is expected to decrease compared to previous years due to the impact of drought and high temperatures, which have hindered growth. Consequently, wholesale prices for potatoes are expected to remain strong for the time being. According to the Korea Rural Economic Institute, the cultivation area for highland potatoes this year is 3,660 hectares, a 2.1% decrease compared to previous years. Additionally, due to insufficient rainfall in June and July and continuous heat, potato growth has been hindered, resulting in poor yields, with an expected decrease of 4.2% compared to previous years to 3,464 kg/10a. As a result, the production volume of highland potatoes this year is expected to be 1