The cultivation of potatoes by farms and industrial enterprises in Ukraine decreased by 36% in the first year of the full-scale war compared to pre-war levels, and the situation continues to worsen, said Mykola Furdyha, Director of the Institute of Potato Research, during a conference at the All-Ukrainian Potato Day, Potato Ukraine-2024.
According to the scientist, overall potato yields are increasing across the country, with yields in household farms reaching 16.5 centners per hectare, and 25.8 centners per hectare in industrial enterprises.
However, in 2024, the number of certified seed enterprises stands at 19, compared to 30 in the pre-war year of 2021. In the first year of the war, only 16 farms were engaged in seed production in Ukraine.
Furdyha noted that certified seed farms have announced plans to produce 38,147 tons of seed potatoes in 2024, which is insufficient to meet market demand. According to the State Statistics Service, Ukraine's potato market produces about 20 million tons annually.
Source: agrotimes.ua