[Rural Economy and Agriculture Newspaper=Reporter Kim Jin-oh] With potato prices rising significantly compared to last year this month and expected to decrease in supply in September, the price strength is expected to continue. However, potato farmers maintain that despite the price increase, they have barely avoided losses as production has significantly decreased. According to the Agricultural Monitoring Center of the Korea Rural Economic Institute, the average price of potatoes traded in Seoul's Garak Market from the 1st to the 23rd of this month was 37,080 won per 20kg, a 30.4% increase from 28,431 won last year and a 20.4% increase from 31,800 won in an average year. The reason for the price increase is due to heat waves and drought during the growing period, and delays in harvest caused by rain in mid-month.