Cheap tubers of the “second grade” will appear in Russia
Rarely in any supermarket today you will find domestic tubers of the old crop. And so they, cordial, broke all storage records, lasted on the market until mid-June. When did this happen? Now there are plenty of imports on the shelves — young potatoes from Azerbaijan 40 rubles per kilo, and from Egypt the same, but 60 each. And what are the prospects for domestic «second bread» this year? Will he keep the social price of 16-20 rubles per kilogram, like the whole past season? It is already clear that due to the decline in potato plantations in the private sector, its gross harvest will be less than last year.
They report from the Rostov region that young potatoes have already begun to be dug there, but it is still too early to deliver them to Moscow — they will not reach it: the skin is too thin, you need to keep it in the garden for another week. Farmers sell young tubers in bulk to supermarkets for 18-19 rubles per kilogram. In local stores, it is 35-40.
In Moscow, in a week, the price of domestic young tubers from the south of Russia will probably not be lower than 50 rubles. “In order to take from Rostov to the capital in a refrigerator, you need to add another 7 rubles per kilogram. — explains the expert. — Here, retail chains will immediately throw 100-150% on young potatoes»…
We call Bryansk — the main supplier of «second bread»; to Moscow. Here, the harvesting of young tubers has not yet begun. But due to low prices, the private sector has reduced potato planting by 15-20%.
— We will start digging in 2-3 weeks, — farmer Valery Matveev told us. — By this time, the harvest from the field will fall in price to 13-14 rubles. But in Moscow it is unlikely to be cheaper than 50. Look who raises prices…
The problem is that low commodity prices for potatoes, which have been holding all season, are unprofitable for the producer. We need a balance: so that it is affordable for the buyer, but also & nbsp; the manufacturer had a profit from the sale. How to achieve it — decided at a meeting in the Potato Union, which took place at the end of last month. Representatives of retail chains assessed the quality of Russian potato varieties. And then all imported, but imported…
Trade said that they do not care what varieties to sell, the main thing is that buyers like it and sell well. The organizers held a tasting of full-scale samples of last year's harvest. According to our information, the tasters had questions about only one Russian variety. It is good for everyone, but according to buyers, it is very boiled soft. What our peasants categorically disagreed with.
Theoretically, we agreed that retail chains would give the green light to domestic potatoes. But under certain conditions: with a two-week lying on the trading shelf, the tubers will keep their presentation, will not turn green, can be washed well and were without mechanical damage.
Retail chains agreed to keep social prices for potatoes, which are sold at discounts and in bulk. Tentatively, they will remain within 15-20 rubles per kilogram, like the entire past season. There are no questions about the quality of the goods. It will be like a second-class potato. But in any case, you can choose good potatoes from it.
However, social prices do not suit either the trade or the producers themselves. Because for the "good" according to the quality of the tubers, a special price for the upcoming harvest was agreed: 60 rubles per kilogram. These tubers must be washed, packaged in nets of 2.5 kilograms (150 rubles) and comply with the already mentioned conditions – without mechanical damage, etc.
While the conditions are preliminary – both in terms of prices and varieties of Russian tubers. In August, another similar meeting will be held in the Potato Union — already final — with representatives of the HARDWARE and tasting. It is expected that 10-15 best varieties of domestic selection will be selected for sale.
At the meeting, it was noted that prices are strongly influenced by the number of traders who supply goods from manufacturers to the trading counter. It was decided to refuse their services, leaving behind them only import deliveries in the spring, when the harvest comes from Egypt, Pakistan & nbsp; or Azerbaijan. And for Russian potatoes, market participants intend to establish direct deliveries «field-counter». That will reduce the cost of tubers. Large producers also agree to such deliveries..
…Our authorities do not just rely on import substitution and the sale of Russian varieties of potatoes. Those producers who use domestic planting material will receive various subsidies and preferential loans from the state. And those who use foreign varieties will lose such preferences. But, as we were informed by experts, this year restrictions on the import of & nbsp; There are no imported seeds.
— About 10 thousand tons of them were brought in for this year's harvest, as in the last three years. And we need about a million tons to land. Localized in Russia production of seeds of varieties of foreign selection – these are our seeds. If earlier the percentage of import substitution was only 10% of domestic seeds, then this year it is 15-20%. And in 2-3 years we will reach 60% use of domestic seeds.