As the potato marketing campaign concludes, Italian potato growers are grappling with apprehensions about the potential selling prices for the next season’s tubers, especially in light of the substantial increase in seed costs compared to previous years. In Central-Southern Italy, some potato growers are expressing their unease regarding the escalating production expenses and the uncertainties surrounding the availability and affordability of this staple food item.
The growers are currently witnessing a surge in the price of seeds, raising concerns about the affordability and accessibility of this essential resource for the upcoming season. The soaring production costs, coupled with the scarcity of seeds, have become a significant source of worry for the farmers, prompting apprehensions about the future availability of potatoes as a fundamental food item.
The expense of planting one hectare of seed potatoes has risen dramatically, exceeding 4,000 euros, compared to approximately 2,300 euros a year ago. This spike is primarily attributed to the substantial increase in seed prices, which have surged from 80-100 euros/100kg to 170-200 euros. The overall cost per hectare, encompassing additional necessities such as fertilizers, irrigation, fuel, and labor, is expected to approach nearly 10,000 euros. Each seed tuber, placed at a distance of 35 cm in the furrow, requires about 2.3 tons of seed potatoes to fill one hectare of land.
The growers express apprehensions about the possibility of delayed communications regarding potential reductions in the areas allocated for cultivation, leading to uncertainties about the timely delivery of seeds. The need to place orders for tubers as early as December, without prior knowledge of the prices, has posed significant challenges for the farmers, compelling them to make decisions without complete information. Quality concerns also loom large, as the high demand for seeds contrasts with a limited supply, raising worries about the standard of the product that will be made available to the farmers.
The concerns voiced by potato growers in Italy underscore the profound impact of escalating production costs and seed scarcity on the upcoming season’s cultivation, reflecting the complex challenges faced by agricultural communities in ensuring the sustainable production of this crucial food crop.
