54.7% INCREASE AS POTATO PLANTING AREA, WEATHER AND TRANSPORT COSTS TAKE THEIR TOLL
DESPITE potato harvest being almost over in Russia, prices have continued to rise.
The governmental statistics agency, Rosstat, said prices increased by 1.3% at the beginning of October, 2% in mid October, and a further 3.1% at the end of the month.
The overall cost of potatoes has increased by 54.7% since the beginning of the year.
A decrease in the size of planting areas, adverse weather conditions, rising transportation costs have been blamed by producers for the price increase.
Executive Director of the Potato Union, Alexey Krasilnikov, said last year there was a record potato harvest of 8.6 million tons and the wholesale price up until until May was 0.11 euros per 1 kg, so, compared to last year, the price was higher.
Adverse weather conditions in 2024 meant the potato harvest was smaller than last year. Production costs are also rising according to Head of the Organic Farming Union board, Sergey Korshunov.
Sources: eanews.ru / The Moscow Times Photo: Vardan Papikyan
