This year there is an increased demand for seed potatoes on the Russian market. Many seed farms began to conclude contracts for the sale of crops even before the start of the harvest. And by the middle of autumn there was practically nothing to sell.
DEFICIT AS A CONSEQUENCE OF CROP
According to experts, the main reason for this situation is a decrease in supply on the market. Almost all regions of the country suffered to some extent from unfavorable weather conditions, the potato harvest was less than planned, including for seed producers. A decrease in collection volumes was noted in the territories of Central Russia, the Volga region, the Urals and Siberia.
“Many new buyers have come to us, who previously purchased seed material in the Urals, - says Alexander Kuznetsov, executive director of the Ustyuzhenskiy potato SSSK (a cooperative of farms in the Vologda region is engaged in the cultivation of seed and table potatoes). - People had to look for new suppliers, since the previous ones could not offer seeds in the required volume and / or the required quality this season. By October, we had sold almost the entire volume of early varieties in demand in the southern regions. "
The executive director of the cooperative notes that in the North-West region the weather conditions were also significantly different from the usual ones, but the enterprise managed to achieve the planned collection rates.
“We got the same volume of seed potatoes as usual,” says Alexander Kuznetsov. "There was enough moisture for the plants to form the seed fraction."
The Tula seed farm "Egorsha" (the farm specializes in the production of seeds of high reproduction) also had to face weather problems. "We had a very late boarding this year, - explains the chapter KFH Valery Berezovsky, - had to wait for the soil to be ready. But then everything stabilized, we survived the drought. In terms of harvest, they lost only one variety. And all that
have grown, have already practically sold. "
The shortage of seed potatoes on the market is also confirmed by Svetlana Marsheva, General Director of LLC NORIKA-SLAVIA (the company is engaged in the supply of elite seed material from Germany, as well as overseeing the production and sale of seed potatoes of NORIKA varieties, produced in Russia): “For many varieties, the seed material of which is produced in Russia, we have nothing to offer to buyers, the lots are contracted.”
The expert notes that against the background of a shortage of Russian-made seeds, the demand for seed from abroad has increased, despite
the fact that it costs much more.
HIGH PRICES AND PREPAID WORK
However, Russian seed potatoes cannot be called cheap this season either. "Last year we sold the first reproduction at 30 rubles / kg, and the "elite" - at 35 rubles / kg, - Alexander Kuznetsov recalls. - In this - at 45 and 60 rubles / kg, respectively, and all popular varieties go "in flight".
The head of LLC "NORIKA-SLAVIA" also notes an increase in prices for seeds, but draws attention to the fact that their cost went up last season.
Among the reasons for the rise in price, Valery Berezovsky sees not only a lack of seeds on the market, but also an increase in the cost of production: “Even if there were more potatoes, it would still have to rise in price, because the cost of its production increased: the price of fuel and lubricants went up , electricity - everything. "Svetlana Marsheva agrees with him:" The year was very difficult, and we all understand that producers had to invest heavily in order to obtain high-quality seeds. "
The high cost of seed potatoes does not discourage buyers, because the annual difference in prices for table potatoes is even greater. “We sell food potatoes for washing (caliber 50+) now (as of October 29 - from the editorship) at 40 rubles / kg, fraction 45+ - at 30-35 rubles / kg,” informs Kuznetsov, “Last year the best batches were sold at 12-15 rubles / kg. "
Moreover, customers are ready to immediately make one hundred percent advance payment for scarce goods. "Previously, we entered into contracts for the supply of seeds on a 30% prepayment basis, the rest of the amount was paid by the customers after the New Year holidays, that is, after they themselves had time to sell part of the table potato harvest and receive money, - says the executive director of SSSK "Ustyuzhensky potato", - But this year, buyers don't need installments. ”
TIME FOR DIFFICULT ISSUES
Could growing demand for seed potatoes signal that the country will break planting area records in 2022? During a period of high prices, it is difficult for a manufacturer to avoid the temptation to plant more. But still, not all farms will follow this path.
“Our regular customers have bought more seeds than usual, - Alexander Kuznetsov shares his observations, - I think that in the southern regions we can definitely expect an expansion of potato plantings. "
The General Director of LLC NORIKA-SLAVIA assesses the state of affairs differently: “We note a slight increase in the volume of purchases of seeds, but in our opinion, it is caused to a greater extent by the interest of buyers in new varieties, which performed well last season and turned out to be in demand. And the arrival of new clients. "
“I don’t see our large customers especially increasing the scale of purchases,” continues Svetlana Marsheva. At the same time, the expert draws attention to the fact that this year the list of the company's clients is growing noticeably due to small farms: “We have many orders for the supply of seeds from 20 tons, and often such orders are collective, that is, they include several different varieties.”
Does this mean that mainly high-quality licensed seeds will be used for planting next season? Most likely, not only.
“This year there are a lot of small potatoes all over the country, which are unlikely to be sold as table ones, which means there will be people who
use it as a seed, - states the executive director of SSSK "Ustyuzhensky potato". - But this is a physiologically old potato, it has no potential for reproduction. In addition, the harvesting did not take place everywhere in favorable conditions. In the northwestern part of Russia (I mean the Vologda, Leningrad, Novgorod regions), work dragged on, some farmers harvested part of the harvest when the soil temperature was already less than 10 ° C, and in some cases even at 0 ° C. Wound rot is present on this potato, if you put it on planting, you will hardly have to be proud of the harvest. "
The expert fears that the shaft of cheap low-quality products, which may roll around the market next year, will bring big problems to professional farms. The losses can be impressive considering the amount of investments that enterprises have to make on the eve of the season.
“Last year, farmers from Astrakhan and Rostov blasts bought second-reproduction potatoes from us for planting at 15 rubles / kg, and then sold the harvest obtained in the first harvest at 15-18 rubles / kg, - Alexander Kuznetsov comments. - And for the farms it was not very profitable economically. Farmers felt much more confident when they sold their products at 25-30 rubles / kg. And this year the costs will be different: instead of 45 thousand / ha, the agricultural producer will spend almost 105 thousand / ha only on seeds. Let's add fertilizers and plant protection products to this. At what price will he have to sell his potatoes next year to recoup these costs? At least 30 rubles / kg, but no one
ensures that the market provides such an opportunity. "
The executive director of SSSK Ustyuzhensky potato is convinced that agricultural producers today need to think over possible options for "insurance" against such a development of events and reasonably approach the distribution of areas on the farm. We will see what strategy the market participants will follow next season.