Russia: Potato Production Needs Inputs

By Scott C. Lucas|21 September 2007

Low potato yields in the country are largely be explained by the fact that 93% are produced on privately-owned family plots of about 0.06 to 4 hectares (Ha) and these farm plots do not have access to adequate farm inputs. USDA-FAS also notes that producers may underreport production, since reported production is the basis for taxes on farmers.

USDA-FAS reports that 16% of the world’s potatoes are planted in Russia. The world average per acre yield is about 33 tons, but the Russian average usually settles between 20 to 25 tons.

Advanced Russian potato farms that have access to the proper inputs have achieved yields of up to 79 tons/acre. Through the Program for Agriculture and Market Regulation 2008-2012, the Russian government intends to double the federal expenditures on agricultural support and rural development in hopes of increasing agricultural production by 4%.

The three major areas for potato farming are: Northwest Russia, Central Russia (Volga Valley, Urals, Siberia, and the Far East), and South and Southeast Russia.