The seasonal shortage of potatoes in the Primorsky Territory traditionally begins in May-June. It is by this time that local stocks run out, and the cost of "second bread" soars. In June 2020, “cosmic” prices were fixed for young potatoes, which were sold in Ussuriysk at 179 rubles per kilo.
To avoid the potato collapse, the coastal farmers have prepared thoroughly. During the harvesting of the fields, the Primorye government reported a 53% increase in potato yield. Sergei Kalitin, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Primorsky Territory, assured that the harvest should be sufficient:
- This year, agricultural producers in Primorye have produced potatoes by 25 thousand tons more than last year. 30% of this volume is deposited. To understand: the daily requirement of all retail chains in Primorye is 20 tons of potatoes. Thus, this amount is more than enough to provide the entire population of the region for the entire winter period, subject to proper storage, and even help other regions. Traditionally, May and June will be difficult months for us, but we are preparing for this, there are agreements with other regions.
However, on March 16, 2021, the Rosselkhoznadzor department announced the import of a large batch of potatoes from Pakistan to the Primorsky Territory - 468,2 tons. Foreign "second bread" is more expensive than local. So, in retail outlets in Ussuriysk, its price varies from 62 rubles to 68 rubles per kilo. For comparison, domestic potatoes cost 54 - 55 rubles per kg.
Import of potatoes in March, when, according to experts' forecasts, there should be an abundance of it is an alarming bell. Are the seaside potatoes running out before the traditional May deficit? With this question, corr. IA UssurMedia appealed to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Primorsky Territory.
“There is no shortage of potatoes from local producers. There are problems with the storage of the harvested crop. This requires modern potato storage facilities with a microclimate. Nevertheless, our reserves are sufficient until the end of May, ”commented Andrey Bronts, Minister of Agriculture of the Primorsky Territory.
When asked why Pakistani potatoes are imported to Primorye, Andrei Alexandrovich replied: "Because it is tasty, but expensive."
About the state of affairs with potato stocks in the Ussuriysk urban district, corr. IA UssurMedia found out from Dmitry Volkov, head of the department of potato and vegetable growing of the Federal Scientific Center for Agrobiotechnology of the Far East named after V.I. A.K. Seagulls.
Dmitry Igorevich, is there a shortage of potatoes?
- We have a certain deficit of potatoes. Simply put, it's all sold out. And it was sold back in February. However, the main part of ware potatoes is produced in Putsilovskoye LLC. They still have potato reserves for sale, but not so much.
Why are potato stocks running out in March?
- One of the reasons is the reduction in the cultivated areas where the Chinese were growing potatoes. Last year, due to restrictions, these areas were not planted. In particular, this picture is observed in Korsakovka, Kronovka, Poltavka, villages of the Oktyabrsky district.
Also, the shortage of potatoes is associated with a decrease in supplies from China, plus increased demand from neighboring regions. Thus, most of the ware potatoes of the 2020 harvest were sold to Khabarovsk. We were contacted with a wholesale purchase, and in order not to lay the volumes on storage, we sold about 15 tons of potatoes. By our standards, this is not a bad volume.
Storage problems also affect the availability of potatoes in the spring. Farmers are trying to sell potatoes in the fall, because there is nowhere to store them.
Given the current situation, what are the forecasts for May?
- This is a traditionally difficult month. Therefore, the cost of potatoes in May last year reached 100 rubles per kg. I remember that we were ready to buy illiquid seed potatoes, if only they were good for food. A difficult situation is expected again in May. Pakistan will help us.
Are Pakistani potatoes tastier?
“It's not that it's delicious here. It's just that our potatoes are not there, so people are forced to buy Pakistani. First of all, the population is focused on local potatoes, the demand for it is very high.
The Government of the Primorsky Territory announced the upcoming test of new promising varieties of potatoes from the Republic of Belarus. The tests are planned to be carried out at you, on the basis of the Department of Potato and Vegetable Growing of the Federal Scientific Center of Agrobiotechnology of the Far East named after V.I. A.K. Seagulls in the village of Putsilovka. Have you already started testing Belarusian potatoes?
- These potatoes have not arrived yet. Quarantine documents for the import of potatoes into Russia are still at the stage of preparation. Whether he will have time to arrive at the landing is a question. But from the other side they assure that everything will arrive as soon as possible. For our part, we are already ready to carry out tests and select the most promising varieties for cultivation in the Primorsky Territory from the arrived varieties.
What qualities will the new potato have?
- First of all, we chose early-ripening forms of potatoes, which is very important for our region. These varieties will yield until the typhoon period begins. They will also help to provide the population with early products, young potatoes.
Secondly, these are varieties with a high starch content, which are characterized by excellent taste. It will be really tasty potatoes.
Meanwhile, prices for fruits and vegetables continue to grow in the Primorsky Territory, Primorskstat reports. Among them are potatoes - their cost increased by 9%.