The potato harvesting season in Ukraine in 2024 is in full swing, with producers closely monitoring market conditions and price fluctuations. This year has been challenging for farmers.
One of the potato producers, "Continental Farmers Group," has already begun harvesting early food and seed varieties in the Lviv and Ternopil regions. In 2024, the company is cultivating potatoes on 1,870 hectares, including 1,150 hectares for chip potatoes, 429 hectares for food potatoes, and 292 hectares for seed potatoes.
The planting campaign started later than usual due to excessive rainfall. Still, favourable weather during the growing season allowed the plants to develop a strong root system, creating a potential for high productivity. The company plans to harvest around 65,000 tons of potatoes and complete the harvest by the second decade of October. The company's storage facilities, including modern potato warehouses, are prepared to receive the new crop.
Meanwhile, other farmers faced challenges as well. Ihor Shkurko, Director of PJSC NVO "Chernihiv Elite Potato," noted that this year's harvest is expected to be lower than last year due to adverse weather and a shortage of seed potatoes. The hot summer also led to the spread of alternaria, which harmed plant growth and tuber weight.
High temperatures also caused premature sprouting of early varieties, reducing their quality and shelf life.
Farmers are now hoping for favourable conditions for mass harvesting, fearing potential prolonged rains. Currently, the price for medium-early potato varieties is around 12 UAH per kilogram, but due to a possible decrease in supply, it may rise to 20 UAH in the fall. Medium-late and late varieties, which will be stored, are expected to be more expensive.
Source: agrotimes.ua / zemliak.com/biznes