January 30 2007, 13:12

Wholesalers purchase potato for $0.11/kg from the local people of the western oblasts of Ukraine

According to information of the specialists of "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" weekly journal, the wholesale companies have started to actively purchase potato from the local people in the western regions of Ukraine. At the present moment the wholesalers pay $0.11-0.13/kg for quality potato; two weeks ago the prices were on average $0.02/kg lower. The market players say that the purchased potato is supplied to the central, southern and eastern regions of Ukraine; the product is swimmingly resold there for the wholesale prices up to $0.27-0.33/kg.

Mainly due to the activeness of such wholesalers the prices for potato remain stable. To the opinion of the analysts of Agricultural Marketing Project, the price for potato fully satisfies the producers at the present moment despite of the fact the wholesale price for potato is 50-80% lower today than in 2006. An average cost efficiency of potato production in 2006 will amount to about 150%, according to evaluations of the specialists of Agricultural Marketing Project. This situation can result in the extension of potato cultivation areas in 2007.

The detailed forecast of potato production and prices in 2007 will be available in April issues of "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" journal.