January 30 2007, 09:21

Russia harvested 54.1 mln. tons of vegetables and potato in 2006

According to information provided by the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, Russian potato and vegetable producers managed to increase the production up to 54.1 mln. tons in 2006.

Potato production has grown 3% despite of the 4% acreage reduction comparing to 2005. To the opinion of Andriy Yarmak, the Deputy Director of the Agricultural Marketing Project, the increased potato production has been recently provided by means of the intensified production and localization of the cultivation areas in the large specialized potato farms. This circumstance let the producers increase an average potato yield and achieve the production growth in Russia despite of the steady trend of the reduction of potato cultivation areas. Mr. Yarmak says that potato acreage has reduced 10% during the recent ten years in Russia; meanwhile potato production has increased 12% during the same period of time. So, an average potato yield has increased more than 20% during the mentioned period.

According to the data of Russian Statistics Committee, the vegetable production also increased 3% in 2006. The same as potato, the production growth of vegetables was mostly accomplished due to the increased average yield. It is worth mentioning that the increased vegetable production is a long-term trend in the Russian Federation; it is accompanied by the extension of vegetable cultivation areas. According to information of "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" weekly journal, vegetable production has increased more than 35%, an average yield has increased 22-25% during the recent 10 years in the Russian Federation.