Farmers in the Pavlodar and Karaganda regions, as well as parts of Akmola and Kostanay regions, have been hit by unfavorable weather conditions — this year's heat and drought have taken a toll on the potato harvest. Growers have predicted a possible rise in the price of the crop, the website infohub.kz reports.
Harvesting is currently under way in the Karaganda region, and farmers' forecasts are optimistic. They note that while this year's harvest is smaller than last year's, it is larger than the one two years ago. The potatoes are small, but they should also keep better.
"Yes, there were those critical 80 days of heat in the Karaganda region. They did have a bit of an effect — there was some stress, a bit of stress for the potatoes. But even so, I've already been talking to many colleagues, and there is a harvest, and we are seeing very good quality potatoes," said agronomist Alexander Matviyenko, a manager at Eurasia Invest LLP and Agro-Krestyansky Dvor LLP.
Farmers believe there will be no shortage, since many of them have expanded the area planted with potatoes. The Ministry of Agriculture so far sees no problems. It estimates the yield at 26.4 tonnes per hectare.
"Potatoes are grown mainly on irrigated land, and therefore their production depends directly on how well farmland is supplied with irrigation water. On the whole, no shortage of water resources for irrigation was observed this year. According to local executive bodies, during the growing season 100% of potato crops were in good and satisfactory condition," the ministry said.
Farmers are selling potatoes at 100–110 tenge per kilogram, and some who have no storage facilities are selling them for as little as 80. The increased value-added tax has also hit farmers, it is noted. Many took out additional loans early in the year to pay for ordered machinery.
"Many are now trying to reduce their tax and credit burden and pay off these loans. They are selling potatoes at a reduced price. There is a shop in my building, an ordinary retail shop, and it sells select potatoes at 300 tenge per kilogram. And I know for certain that the farm supplying that shop sells them for 100 tenge. Where did those 200 tenge come from, at what stage?" said Baizhan Ualikhanov, chairman of the Union of Potato and Vegetable Growers of Kazakhstan.
Almost all farmers work through intermediaries, sometimes with 3–4 links in the chain. Farmers have no way to set up their own logistics company and deliver small batches to supermarkets. The Union of Potato Growers believes that if the state is going to regulate prices, it is time to turn its attention to the middlemen.