Farmers in Russia’s Novosibirsk region have dramatically reduced potato and open-field vegetable plantings in 2026, driven by a severe drop in prices. According to regional agricultural data, potato acreage has shrunk by 26% compared to last year, falling from 3,321 hectares to 2,635.5 hectares. Open-field vegetables—including cabbage, beets, carrots, cucumbers, and tomatoes—saw a 14.2% reduction. The primary culprit is a collapse in producer prices: average consumer prices for potatoes in early June 2026 are 69.6% lower than they were a year ago. Farmers report that with retail prices hovering around 40 rubles per kilogram and wholesale returns amounting to mere “pennies,” potato farming has become completely unprofitable, especially given the high share of manual labor required.
Many local farms have abandoned potatoes altogether, switching to more profitable crops like rapeseed. The situation is further complicated by a stark price divide between local and imported produce—imported potatoes cost roughly twice as much as Russian ones. Farmers warn that unless pricing improves, even more operations will exit potato and vegetable production next year. “How can they survive with loans under such conditions?” said Shakir Suleymanov, director of the “Dary Ordynska” vegetable farm and a member of the Potato Union. While beneficial for consumers, the 69.6% year-on-year price drop has made local vegetable growing economically unsustainable, putting the region’s food security at risk.
