The heat and drought conditions in La Rioja will cause a decrease in the production of potatoes. The harvest has already begun in La Rioja Alta and, according to the manager of the Rioja Alta Interlocal Agricultural Cooperative of Santo Domingo de la Calzada, Emilio García, there will be a 20 to 30% decrease in production when compared to last year.
2021 was a good year in terms of production, as producers harvested nearly 60 tons per hectare. This year, technicians estimate production will stand at nearly 37 tons per hectare.
The reduction in the potatoes harvested this year will force the renegotiation of contracts that were signed with the industries during the month of March, at the time of sowing. The contracts will have to be renegotiated in terms of volume, as nobody expected this decrease in production, and in terms of price, to adjust to the current circumstances.
"Last year contracts were made for 15 cents per kilo of potatoes and this year they were signed at 17. However, will have to review them because we are not going to obtain the production we planned for and because market prices have changed," stated the manager of the cooperative.
Free market prices range from 30 to 42 cents per kilo of potato at the origin.
Source: nuevecuatrouno.com