The year 2018 is not equal to 1976

I reported 2 weeks ago that there were a number of growers in 1976 who sold 1 bundle of potatoes for a price that would allow them to buy a new Mercedes. This is because 2 weeks ago it was still possible to hope for a reasonable harvest.

I am an optimist by nature and had hopes for it myself. However, after 2 days of scorching temperatures, my hopes for a reasonable harvest have been dashed. I don't know what the yield will be. However, I expect that this will not be high in most cases.

The growers in 1976 were organized in a pool or cultivated freely. Everyone followed the market, so disappointing returns offset by high prices. There were also a large number of traders who gave the market an extra boost and the cultivation areas per farmer were much smaller.

Different situation
Today we know a total different situation. We have far fewer growers, but we do have a larger cultivation area. The growers have also long ceased to grow freely or in a pool. Larger companies and rising costs have contributed to contracting. Not many farmers can afford a bad price. If I take the average grower, then it could be that 30 to perhaps 40 tons are fixed with a price agreement.

This makes it clear that most growers have little or no free potatoes, given the current growth pattern. It means that the potatoes can be more expensive, but that it cannot be profited from. For example, this year may be less than last year for a number of growers and that Mercedes of 1976 may not even be able to become a 'Baby Benz' with 300.000 km on the clock.

Wat nu? 
So much for an overview of the situation. What now? You can go to the government and ask for support; giving back the excise tax increase on red diesel would be a good support. If farmers abroad are supported, then we must also be supported. Otherwise there is not a level playing field.

We have to work together to get more money from the consumer to the grower. The Vavi sounded the alarm last week, because there would be much fewer potatoes. It would be good for growers (together with Vavi) to go to the minister and point out the exceptional situation. Because, let's face it, for a lot of us it's going to be a disaster.

Fair trade
The minister regularly speaks of 'fair trade'. One could jointly address the retail sector, chips traders and the like, and point out to them the more than exceptional situation. It is a good idea to deposit €0,10 per kilo of chips in a fund to alleviate the consequences of this year.

In my view, it is also the responsibility of retail to ensure that their suppliers are helped; that too is social and sustainable entrepreneurship. And the consumer does not notice anything of that dime, because it is less than € 0,02 per box of chips.

That fund needs to come in the potato sector be distributed so that free growers and contract growers benefit from it. But, chips makers must also be able to identify with it. The fund must also pay attention to the seed potato growers, who supply the Dutch market. The starch growers could follow the same line.

Of course there are many things to notice about my thoughts and it is easy to shoot them. However, let's agree that if you criticize, you'll come up with a better solution. And if we don't want to do anything, that's also possible. But then you have to accept it as it is.

Jaap Haanstra

Jaap Haanstra is an arable farmer in Luttelgeest and chairman of the AgriFacts Foundation. In addition, he has worked for various agricultural organizations over the past 30 years. Haanstra writes his columns in a personal capacity.

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