The potato yields in Poland are disappointing this year. This while these are less sharply reduced compared to other European countries. This is shown by figures from the Polish Economic Institute of Agriculture (IERGZ).
According to the IERGZ, the potato harvest in the country will be 10% to 15% turn out lower than in 2017, which is mainly due to the drought. This reduction is in addition to the reduction in the area: a decrease from 29.000 hectares to approximately 300.000 hectares. It should be noted that the share of French fries potatoes is actually growing.
However, it is expected that considerably less will be harvested, compared to the approximately 10 million tonnes that were harvested in 2017. If the IERGZ's expectations are correct, the total potato harvest in the country this year will be approximately 8,5 million tons.
Significant price increases
The Polish institute also expects significant price increases. They say that the situation resembles the situation 3 years ago. The final yield then came to 6,3 million tons.
Prices on the Polish free market have risen in the past period to a maximum of €30 per 100 kilos (converted into euros). However, the average price (converted to euros) is just under €20 per 100 kilos. The institute expects that prices will remain at the high level until late spring 2019.
Bound by contracts
In Poland, too, the majority of growers is bound by a contract. Starch potato growers in particular are experiencing problems. There is little starch in the potatoes, partly due to the weather, according to the farmers' union of Poland. However, it should be noted that the situation in the country varies greatly.
In the south of the country yields are lower, while in the north (for example in Western Pomerania) they are generally fine. However, lower yields in Poland will mean that lower yields in the rest of Europe will be less able to be compensated by the country that is seen as the manufacturing industry's backyard.