Now that the potato harvest is starting to take shape, it is becoming clear how the drought and heat have affected the yield. Significantly fewer kilos are harvested in France, but historically low yields are also achieved in Portugal.
It has been known for some time that the heat and drought in France have a major impact on the potato harvest, but to what extent is only clear at the end of the harvest. A large area has now been cleared and the statistics office of the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food has published the first harvest estimate. They make a distinction between ware potatoes and potatoes intended for the starch industry.
The yield of ware potatoes is estimated at 6,0 million tons, 9% less compared to 2021, while the acreage has increased by 1,9% since last year. The hectare yield is 39,2 tons and therefore 4,7 tons lower. The hectare yield is 4,0 tons lower than the five-year average. The share of starch potatoes is much smaller and is estimated at 824.000 tons this season. That is 23,4% lower than last season, when almost 1,1 million tons were harvested. In addition to a lower yield per hectare, a decrease in the acreage (8,6%).
The figures from the French agricultural statistics bureau seem to be somewhat 'not too bad'. Certainly if we compare these with earlier expectations and French trial harvests. For example, the French National Association of Potato Producers (UNPT) previously reported a loss of 1,5 million tons of potatoes. This means that the average yield losses are closer to 20%. In certain areas, that's 30%, they reported. The UNPT's trial grubbing-ups also showed that picture.
Portugal harvest historically low
This year is no different in Portugal with the heat and drought. It is true that the tons that grow there are a lot lower compared to Western Europe, but it is clear that more must be imported. The extra demand for potatoes is already known in France. The 2022 harvest is estimated at 'only' 310.000 tons of potatoes, the lowest yield since 1930. The yield is about 25% lower than last season, when 410.000 tons were harvested. The cultivation of potatoes in Portugal has been under pressure for years, but the heat and drought of this season have led to the crop ripening very early. That while almost all plots have irrigation at their disposal.