Information that Russia is running out of potatoes and its own stocks will not be enough until spring, was announced by the Accounts Chamber. A little earlier, in December, experts from the Institute for Agricultural Market Studies (IKAR) announced an increase in the cost of potatoes in 2018. According to them, the reason for the rise in price will be that the stocks of domestic potatoes will run out earlier than usual.
What is the situation in Pskov, is there enough potatoes and how much will it cost, the Business Information Center found out. Representative questions were answered by a representative of one of the city’s largest vegetable bases.
Where did the potato sold on the Pskov markets grow?
- The main suppliers of potatoes for Pskov are traditionally local farmers. Basically, these are Pechora and Porkhovsky districts. We have been working with the same farmers for many years and we prefer to take potatoes only from them. So we always know what kind of product it is, what quality it is.
Will there be enough local farmers to feed Pskov?
- While there is no talk of a deficit, prices are also still predictable. The farmers have reserves, they are still trading freely, two more months will definitely be enough. But the period will soon begin when they begin to "hold" their reserves. The reason is simple: in spring prices are higher, and who does not want to sell their products more expensive.
And will farmers keep the crop until spring?
- Potatoes are stored well now. The fact is that every farmer who trades in such volumes has modern equipped warehouses, which maintain the required humidity and temperature. People learn and invest in their production.
How much can the price of potatoes grow and when to wait for a rise in price?
- It is rather difficult to make forecasts, for example, the price may rise right now on the wave of news that the potatoes are over, or may not start ...
Let me tell you how it usually happens, using the example of last year's prices. During the harvest period, potatoes cost about 10 rubles per kilogram (keep in mind that these are wholesale prices, the retail price is three rubles higher). As soon as the digging period ends and we buy potatoes that are already stored, the wholesale price immediately rises to 12 rubles, which means that the retail price is approximately 14-15 rubles. The next period of price growth - a month before the new year, the price rises to 14 rubles, retail - 17-19 rubles. So far this year everything is happening according to this scenario. The next price increase usually begins in February, and now it is no longer limited to a one-time increase - since February, the price of potatoes has been steadily increasing. By April, potatoes double their price from the original, but this is not a “ceiling”. Last year, retail prices reached 30 rubles per kilogram at some retail outlets in the city.
What to do when the local potato runs out?
- For example, last year, local farmers ran out of potatoes in early May. What to do? Look for new suppliers. They brought potatoes from Belarus and Udmurtia. Strange, but for all the love of the Pskov people to everything Belarusian, potatoes from there are not popular, they are very reluctant to buy.
How much does the “imported” potato cost?
- Yes, it costs about the same as the local one. Initially, its price is noticeably lower, because the volumes are completely different. But multiple resale and shipping costs equalize its bottom line with local produce.
For reference: according to Pskovstat, in December a kilogram of potato in Pskov stores cost 19-20 rubles. Note that in stores they sell most often farm locally produced potatoes.
Source:http://businesspskov.ru