In Ukraine's Zakarpattia region, the potato harvest is under threat due to adverse weather and pest infestations. Goloskarpat.info reports that local farmers are battling slugs and rodents, which are destroying stored potatoes, exacerbating the impact of a poor harvest season. Zakarpattia, situated in the Carpathian Mountains in west Ukraine, borders Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania.
This year's potato yield in Zakarpattia is reported to be one of the lowest in memory, with a record-breaking heatwave in July and a lack of rainfall for nearly five months severely affecting the crops. "Our gardens literally burned under the relentless sun," a farmer told Goloskarpat.info, highlighting the extreme weather conditions that led to the potatoes being "practically cooked in the hot ground." Last year, a prolonged drought followed by heavy rains resulted in many unharvested potatoes rotting in the fields.
Storage has also become a challenge, with slugs and rodents consuming stored potatoes. "We had a decent harvest this year—about 48 sacks—but the pests are a big problem," said Oksana, a Zakarpattia homeowner, indicating the severity of the pest issue in storage areas.
During the ongoing conflict, potatoes have gained strategic importance in Ukraine, with initiatives like the "Victory Gardens" encouraging increased cultivation to ensure food security. However, the combination of poor yields and storage losses has led to a shortage of marketable potatoes, prompting Ukraine to import potatoes from Poland and Lithuania to meet domestic demand. This situation has resulted in rising vegetable prices, with expectations of further increases.
The challenges faced in Zakarpattia highlight the vulnerability of agricultural communities to climate extremes and pest infestations, underscoring the need for support in pest control and adaptation to changing climate conditions.
Source: Potato News Today