September 16 2008, 15:24

Russia: rains saved potato harvest in the Middle Ural

Since August, the Ural agrarians have been seriously worried about potato harvest of the current year – summer was droughty and the produce correspondingly was small in size.

According to the Consumer cooperation of Sverdlovskaya oblast, only rains starting at the beginning of September, could save the potato harvest, New Region reported.

However, as of to date, the agrarians are mostly troubled by unceasing mud on the fields, appeared as a result of abundant rains that impedes harvesting. According to the data of the Regional consumer cooperation, mass potatoes harvesting will not start while the soil is wet. Therefore, currently, the prices for potatoes are high – the purchasing prices total $0.27/kg instead of usual $0.19-0.23/kg.

Nevertheless, the agrarians are to start mass potato harvesting at the beginning of the next week – the weather-chart makers forecast dry weather. Besides, in the nearest days in Ural the mass purchasing of vegetables from population, for example carrots, is to begin.