In 2023, the Samara region secured its place among the top twenty regions in Russia for industrial potato production, ranking 20th. The region’s share in the total harvest volume was 1.5%. However, unlike some other regions, Samara is a recipient region for potatoes, with only 74.8% of its demand met by local production.
Potato Cultivation Areas
Over the past decade, the area dedicated to potato cultivation in the industrial sector (agricultural enterprises and peasant farms, KFH) has significantly decreased, almost halving. In 2014, the cultivation area was 6,700 hectares, but by 2023, it had dropped to 3,900 hectares, with a further reduction to 3,800 hectares expected in 2024.
Potato Cultivation Areas in the Industrial Sector (Agricultural Enterprises and KFH)
| Year | Cultivation Area, hectares |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 6,700 |
| 2015 | 6,800 |
| 2016 | 6,100 |
| 2017 | 4,000 |
| 2018 | 4,500 |
| 2019 | 4,200 |
| 2020 | 3,900 |
| 2021 | 3,900 |
| 2022 | 4,100 |
| 2023 | 3,900 |
| 2024 | 3,800 |
Gross Potato Harvest Volume
The decline in cultivation areas has been accompanied by a significant reduction in production volume. In 2014, the gross potato harvest in the Samara region was 191,300 metric tons, but by 2023, this figure had dropped to 116,400 metric tons.
Gross Potato Harvest Volume in the Industrial Sector (Agricultural Enterprises and KFH)
| Year | Gross Harvest Volume, metric tons |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 191,300 |
| 2015 | 161,000 |
| 2016 | 161,100 |
| 2017 | 124,200 |
| 2018 | 129,500 |
| 2019 | 118,100 |
| 2020 | 116,300 |
| 2021 | 104,000 |
| 2022 | 106,400 |
| 2023 | 116,400 |
| 2024 | —– |
Potato Yield
Despite the reduction in cultivated area and production volume, potato yield in the industrial sector has shown some resilience. In 2023, the yield was 29.53 tons per hectare, which is slightly lower than the peak of 33.46 tons per hectare observed in 2020.
Potato Yield in the Industrial Sector (Agricultural Enterprises)
| Year | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 28.51 |
| 2015 | 23.68 |
| 2016 | 27.31 |
| 2017 | 31.36 |
| 2018 | 29.49 |
| 2019 | 28.39 |
| 2020 | 33.46 |
| 2021 | 31.00 |
| 2022 | 28.90 |
| 2023 | 29.53 |
| 2024 | —– |
Conclusion
The Samara region remains an important area for potato production in Russia, though its role has diminished over the past decade. The significant reduction in cultivation area and production volume reflects broader agricultural trends in the region. As a recipient region, Samara relies on imports to meet its full potato demand. Despite these challenges, the region continues to maintain a stable yield, which has helped cushion the impact of decreasing cultivation areas on overall production.
