The Netherlands continues to support Ukrainian potato sector
Processing and the production of potato products with added value remain the priority for Ukraine.
The Netherlands has been supporting the potato industry in Ukraine for many years — from improving growing technology, storage, institutional capacity building to realizing the export potential.
Currently, the question of drafting a strategy for the development of the potato industry is relevant, taking into account the challenges caused by the war, the loss of infrastructure and the complications of logistics. This was said by Carolien Spaans Agricultural Counsellor of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine during the All-Ukrainian Potato Day on 30 August 2024, which took place in the Volyn region on Eco Tour farm.
According to Carolien Spaans, the experience of the Netherlands can be useful for representatives of the Ukrainian sector to determine priorities and establish cooperation with international organizations.
The next steps in the potato industry have been debated for many years, and processing is one of the top priorities. At the event, I had the opportunity to talk with manufacturers, processors and suppliers of the industry and heard many reasonable ideas that should contribute to the development of the potato industry and the economy of Ukraine in general. Processing is an important step, but it is not limited to investments in processing enterprises. It also requires an extensive network of raw material producers, whose products must meet quality standards and provide the necessary volumes of raw materials for processing. That is, it is necessary to establish a close and effective interaction of all participants and suppliers of potato industry.
The support of the Netherlands is not limited to projects for the development of the Ukrainian potato sector, a joint project is already being implemented in the Chernihiv region with the participation of private businesses from the Netherlands and Ukraine. It was financed within the first round of UPF (Ukrainian Partnership Facility) program. The new round will be open in October this year.
Applicants for a subsidy can be Dutch companies that want to implement projects in Ukraine aimed at its reconstruction and sustainable recovery. More details about the project at the link Ukraine Agriculture and Food Security Platform Meeting | Activiteit | Agroberichten Buitenland
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Volyn region, 30 august 2024
POTATO CULTIVATION IN UKRAINE DURING WAR YEARS DECREASED BY 36% - INSTITUTE OF POTATO GROWING
KYIV. Sept 2 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Potato cultivation by households and industrial enterprises in Ukraine in the first year of the war decreased by 36% compared to pre-war figures, the situation continues to worsen, Director of the Institute of Potato Growing Mykola Furdyha at a conference within the All-Ukrainian Potato Day Potato Ukraine-2024.
According to him, the potato yield is growing in the country as a whole and in households is 16.5 tonn per hectare, in industrial enterprises some 25.8 tonn per hectare.
At the same time, in 2024, the number of certified seed-growing enterprises is 19, while in the pre-war 2021 there were 30, and in the first year of the war, only 16 farms were engaged in seed production in Ukraine.
The director of the Institute of Potato Growing said certified seed-growing farms declared that they would grow 38,147 tonnes of seed potatoes in 2024, which is not enough to meet the needs of the market, which annually produces, according to the State Statistics Service, about 20 million tonnes. The leaders in the declared volume of seed potato production in 2024 will be Zabarivske (Chernihiv region) with 8,964 tonnes, agroholdings Continental Farmers Group and Central Plains Group (Lviv region), which will grow 6,560 and 4,915 tonnes, Andriivske (Chernihiv region) with 4,010 tonnes, Chipsy Lux with 2,750 tonnes.
Furdyha said that during the war years, the demand for potato seeds of domestic selection increased due to lower prices than for seed material of foreign selection. For the first time since independence, three industrial enterprises began to multiply domestic varieties, including Biotekh LTD, Yalovytska Tekhnolohiya, Desna. They purchased the varieties Skarbnytsia, Slovianka, Tiras, Kniahynia Myroslava, Okolytsi, Sluch, Fotyniya for propagation.
Furdyha also noted a reduction in the number of biotechnological laboratories in the country that work with potato growers from 13 in 2017 to seven in 2024.
Taras Vysotskyi: Ukrainian potato producers have the potential for successful competition on international markets
The Ukrainian potato industry has enough potential to successfully compete on international markets. In order to realize this, it is necessary to unite and discuss what steps and reforms the state should take at various levels in order to realize this potential.
This was announced by acting Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Taras Vysotskyi during his welcoming address to the participants of the All-Ukrainian Potato Day held in Lutsk on 30th August 2024. According to him, Ukrainian potato producers have made progress in the potato cultivation, and it is necessary to develop further.
"The Ukrainian potato industry has many opportunities. In particular, in the processing sector. It can be the production of French fries, other products with a much higher added value. I am confident that Ukrainian manufacturers are ready to enter the EU's unified market and create successful competition with their European colleagues," said Taras Vysotskyi.
During the event, a presentation of potato varieties of Ukrainian breeding companies took place. The forum is organized by Potato Ukraine