The Astrakhan region has become one of the first in Russia to begin harvesting its new potato crop. According to Governor Igor Babushkin, local farmers plan to gather approximately 1,200 tonnes of early varieties this season. The first batches will be sent to distribution centers of major retail chains, from where the produce will reach store shelves across Russian regions. Production, storage, and marketing issues took center stage at the scientific and practical seminar “Varieties, Technologies, and Prospects for Potato Cultivation in the Northern Caspian Conditions,” held in the Limansky district. The Field Day event brought together leading industry experts and was chaired by Andrey Timofeev, First Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Astrakhan Region.
Specialists from the Astrakhan branch of the Federal Center for Assessing Safety and Quality of Agricultural Products briefed farmers on the requirements for shipping potatoes outside the region. They provided consultations, answered questions, and distributed informational materials. As Regina Kurmanalieva, chief inspector at the branch, reminded producers, export to other regions requires a quarantine certificate and, where no phytosanitary zone exists, mandatory field inspections. Additionally, seed companies presented potato varieties at the event, with demonstration samples dug up right in front of guests to allow visual assessment of quality and yield. Experts noted that each variety has its own purpose – some are better suited for chips production, while others are ideal for French fries.
