Information for fruit and vegetables business in CIS
Ukraine: drought affects potato production
Aftermath of abnormal drought in Ukraine has negatively affected potato production this year. The hottest summer over the past 15-20 years has resulted in a decrease of 20-30% in Zhytomyr, Kiev and Chernihiv Oblasts, according to Mr. Nikolay Gordiychuk, President of Ukrainian Association of Potato Producers.
«Rising costs of potato growing components (from fertilizers to plant protection products, oil and lubricants) are also a relevant problem for Ukrainian growers”, he says.
At the same time, Mr. Gordiychuk is immensely impressed that professional potato growers keep on introducing new technologies and developing despite difficult economic situation in Ukraine.
«Almost all visited farms are positive about their business. This means that the Ukrainian potato sector will be developing», he thinks.
At the same time, irrigation is one of the key problems in potato farms. It is rather difficult to control yields without irrigation. According to Mr. Gordiychuk, only 10-20% of professional potato areas are cultivated with the use of irrigation in Ukraine.
«The Ukrainian commercial potato production development also seriously depends on sales markets. Companies face two key sector problems: lack of exports and processing», he adds.