August 21 2008, 13:58

Moldova to import potatoes this season

The agrarian farms of the Republic will produce about 135.000 tonnes of potatoes this year, and approximately the same volume the framers will grow on their garden plots, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry reported to “Novosti-Moldova”. The country needs 300.000-350.000 tonnes of potatoes to fully satisfy its needs. That is why, Moldova will have to import this crop however in less volumes than last season.

According to the Ministry’s report, the farms of Kalarashskiy, Dubossarskiy, Kriulyanskiy regions successfully cultivate potatoes. These regions have already harvested 2.500-3.000 tonnes of early and middle varieties of this crop. Some farms of these regions receive yield at the level 30 t/ha due to irrigating and growing varieties of Holland, Romania and German selection. Usually, one hectare under potato crop may repay farmers’ work in $ 10.300-13.450 with $3.150-3.623 production costs.

In percentage, more areas are sown under potatoes of late varieties, that are good in storing in winter.