W2: Weekly Common & Sweet Potato Update
Common Potato
New Zealand
Extremely Wet Weather Could Lead To Potato Shortages in New Zealand
An early potato shortage and increased prices are predicted in New Zealand due to record rainfall before Christmas. As potatoes require sunlight and dry soil to be harvested, yields will be lower due to the record-breaking quantity of rain that fell in November. Since potatoes are planted and harvested all over the country, the rainy weather would affect harvesting and growth in specific places but not the overall supply. However, there would be a shortage early in the season, and prices would go up a little.
Moldova
Potatoes May Become Cheaper in Moldova, According to Forecasts
The wholesale price drop for potatoes that started in the second half of December 2022, according to market operators in Moldova, may continue in January 2023. The low demand for this product is the same reason that the price of this product may decrease again in the future. In W1, Moldovan city markets offered potatoes in bulk for USD 0.30 to 0.31/kg. However, the majority of sellers complained about the decline in the already low demand. Likewise, several wholesalers claim that beginning around October 2022, at least some of the retail in Moldova has changed to selling cheap Ukrainian potatoes. Thus, after weighing the "pros" and "cons," operators of the fruit and vegetable market of Moldova are inclined to believe that the average level of the wholesale price for potatoes in the short term will rather decrease than increase.
Uzbekistan
Prices for Vegetables Rise in Uzbekistan Due to Abnormal Cold Weather
Uzbekistan and Tajikistan will experience unusually cold temperatures starting on January 10, 2023. In particular, the air temperature in Uzbekistan's capital is minus 13-15 degrees Celsius during the day and as low as minus 20 degrees at night as of January 13, 2023. The average wholesale prices for greenhouse vegetables in W2 grew between 9-17% during the course of the week in comparison to price levels at the end of W1, while prices for potatoes, onions, and carrots increased by 12-21%. Potatoes price increased by 14.3% WoW from USD 0.35/kg in W1 to USD 0.40/kg in W2.
Russia
Breeders of Primorye Russia Bred New Varieties of Potatoes for the Climate of the Far East
According to the regional government's press department, breeders in Primorye have developed two new potato varieties called "Orion" and "Poseidon" that are suited for the climate of the Far East. Professionals from the selection and seed centre in Ussuriysk are in charge of developing and implementing new, adapted varieties of potatoes. More than 64,000MT of potatoes were harvested by Primorye farmers in 2022. Thanks to the introduction of super-elite varieties, the yield reached 200 centners per hectare. In Primorye, Belarusian potato varieties have been put to the test since 2021, and this activity requires continuous observation.
By 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture projects that Russia will produce 7.5 MMT of potatoes and 5.9 MMT of open-ground vegetables. The federal programme to boost the production of vegetables and potatoes is among the factors that would cause the indicators to increase. Rosstat reports that agricultural organisations in the Russian Federation harvested 4.299MMT of potatoes in 2022 as compared to 4.063MMT in 2021. Beginning in 2024, the government initiative will boost the reimbursement of direct expenses incurred for the construction and refurbishment of storage facilities for vegetables and potatoes.
The Potato Union Launched an Initiative to Sell Vegetables of Non-standard Size for Chains
The supply of beets, potatoes, and carrots with a high percentage of brittleness is being discussed by the Union of Potato and Vegetable Market Participants with retail chains. Vegetables that aren't the conventional size are typically twice as cheap for retail chains. In W2, potatoes of the first grade washed and in a net, are offered for USD 0.48–0.51/kg, while potatoes of the second grade cost USD 0.29/kg. However, according to the head of the Potato Union apparatus, small calibrated tubers are sold for a higher price than regular potatoes.
Hungary
Hungary Is Running Out of Local Potatoes
Hungary may run out of local potatoes in a month due to a low harvest brought on by an exceptionally dry year, a long-term decline in production, and price controls. An adult Hungarian consumes 26kg of potatoes annually on average, according to statistics. Therefore, even without the needs of canteens and restaurants, the 144,000MT of potatoes harvested in Hungary in 2022 can only meet 2/3 of the consumption. As a result, Hungary-grown potatoes will be unavailable in stores in one month. The country has been unable to supply itself with potatoes for many years, and both the area dedicated to growing potatoes and the number of farmers have decreased.
South Africa
Challenges and Opportunities for South African Potato Farmers
The potato sector in South Africa is struggling under the weight of unfavourable growing conditions, high input costs, and continuous blackouts, but growers have reasons for optimism. Over the next five years, the national potato industry wants to raise yearly production from around 2.6MMT to 3.2 MMT. This would be accomplished by preventing the "dumping" of low-cost potato imports, increasing local processing capacity, and developing "new uses for potatoes" that could add value to lower grades.
