Information for fruit and vegetables business in CIS
This year 20% less potato will be harvested than a year ago - AMP forecast
20% less potato will be harvested this year comparing to 2004, according to the updated prognosis of the Agricultural Marketing Project (AMP) concerning fruit and vegetable production and prices. The main reason for production decrease, to the opinion of AMP specialists, is fewer yield, cause weather conditions were unfavorable for potato in 2005. Potato fields in western and northern oblasts of Ukraine suffered the most - usually exactly these regions supply greater part of potato on the national market. Some farms lost up to 50% of the planned potato harvest because of diseases. Still, the producers in southern regions consider potato yield here as very good.
Ukraine is the largest potato producers in Europe; in 2004 25-26 mln. tons were produced in the country, according to AMP evaluations.
In 2005 potato production will decrease also in Poland, Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, Belgium and France. All these countries will totally produce about 33 mln. tons of potato - compare to 42 mln. tons harvested in 2004! So, potato production will be shortened almost 22% in these countries that is approximately equal to the level of production decrease in Ukraine.
The result of the decreasing potato growth may be the significant price jump in the nearest future. In Ukraine the trend of price growth on this product has already started, though the harvesting time is only finishing now. The details of the price perspectives on potato market can be inquired during the second international conference "Fruits and Vegetables of Ukraine 2005" to be held in Kyiv on December 5th-7th 2005.