The organisation Zemnieku Saeima has reported that a strong storm in late July has adversely affected agricultural yields across Latvia, including the potato harvest. In Zemgale, the storm led to potatoes drowning and rotting, whereas Latgale faced a drought, resulting in lower yields and quality of potatoes, with an anticipated increase in the price of local potatoes. Zemgale experienced significant losses, particularly in Dobele, where the potato harvest was almost entirely lost. However, some fields in Zemgale, planted on sandier and higher ground, did not suffer from excessive moisture and rotting.

Juris Lazdiņš, chair of the board of Zemnieku Saeima, commented on the unpredictability of potato farming, noting the variance in outcomes depending on the year's weather conditions. Meanwhile, Vidzeme has maintained a relatively stable situation, with expectations of an above-average harvest despite some signs of rotting. The true outcome for Vidzeme's harvest will be clearer after the later-maturing varieties are collected.

The current price of potatoes in Riga markets stands at approximately 0.65-euro cents per kilogram, an increase from 0.55 euros the previous year. Lazdiņš anticipates a further rise in potato prices during the winter due to the additional labor and electricity costs associated with sorting and selecting undamaged potatoes. Additionally, Zemnieku Saeima highlighted the limitation of insurance for potato fields to hail damage only, advocating for the development of insurance options covering rain and drought risks to mitigate financial losses from weather-related crop damage.

Zemnieku Saeima, established in 1999, represents 800 members from both small and large farms across Latvia, managing over 500,000 hectares of farmland and employing more than 4,000 individuals.

Source - https://www.freshplaza.com