The construction and modernization of vegetable storage facilities in Russia remain costly, with equipment supply difficulties further complicating the process. Alexey Krasilnikov, Executive Director of the Potato and Vegetable Market Participants Union, discussed these challenges.
According to Krasilnikov, storage issues persist, despite Russia producing around 13–14 million tons of potatoes and open-field vegetables annually, far exceeding the available storage capacity. Currently, the country can store only 8–9 million tons at a time.
"Not all produce is stored long-term. Modernization and new storage construction require significant investments, as most equipment comes from foreign manufacturers. Recent developments have made access to such equipment more difficult, increasing costs and complicating logistics," he explained.
He also noted that Russia's Ministry of Agriculture provides annual support for vegetable storage projects.
"Our focus should be on upgrading old Soviet-era storage facilities while prioritizing high-tech solutions. These advanced storage facilities, though expensive, significantly extend the storage period. For example, in the Moscow region, some farms store potatoes from one harvest to the next. Such facilities are rare but cost-effective in the long run, reducing dependency on imports," Krasilnikov added.
Source: smotrim.ru