According to preliminary data from agricultural departments in municipal and urban districts, 10 hectares of open field vegetables and 800 hectares of potatoes were planted in the region. The main areas occupied by potatoes in agricultural enterprises and K (F) X region are located in Ipatovsky, Predgorny, Krasnogvardeisky and Kirovsky districts.
- The total potato production in Russia in 2020 amounted to 12,8 million tons, and in the Stavropol Territory, taking into account the volume produced in private household plots of citizens, 220 thousand tons. This closed the norm for self-sufficiency in the product in the region by 87% or 78 kg / person / year, - said the First Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Stavropol Territory Vyacheslav Dryiger.
The food consumption of potatoes in the region is largely provided by personal subsidiary plots. So, the sown area of potatoes in 2021 in private household plots of citizens amounted to 7,4 thousand hectares, or 59% of the total plantings. In agricultural enterprises - 3,2 thousand hectares or 25%, in K (F) X - 2 thousand hectares or 16%.
- In 2021, the volume of planting of vegetables and potatoes remained at the level of the last agricultural season, but the region is expected to increase the gross production of these crops due to modern agro-technological work and optimal weather conditions, - said the deputy head of the agrarian department of the region Vyacheslav Dryiger.
One of the enterprises that invests a lot of effort and money in high-tech potato production is Agroinvest LLC from the Ipatovsky District. The farm has been a leader in the region for growing potatoes in agricultural enterprises for many years. By the end of 2020, the contribution of this vegetable to the regional piggy bank from the enterprise amounted to more than 50%. At the same time, the farm has its own vegetable and potato storage with a volume of 15 tons, and from June 300, they plan to start digging young Colomba potatoes. An area of 20 hectares is allotted for it, the yield is planned at 1050 c / ha.
In the Petrovsky District, IP Vladimir Berest in 2021 planted potatoes on an area of 18 hectares: early variety - 12 hectares, late variety - 6 hectares. They will also start digging tubers here in the near future: suitable weather conditions will become a guideline for this.
In the Foothill District, where potato growing is largely developed on peasant (farm) farms, early varieties are practically not dealt with - the sum of active temperatures here is insufficient for growing early potatoes.
“When growing potatoes, it is necessary to observe the technology of its cultivation: planting dates, fertilization, timely processing against diseases and pests,” emphasized Natalya Repukhova, head of the melioration and vegetable growing department of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Stavropol Territory.
Potatoes are practically the most widespread crop in many countries and the favorite vegetable on the table of Russians. Its consumption rate is 90 kg / person / year, and it is included in the main dishes. At the same time, potatoes are widely used as feed in animal husbandry and in technological processing.