The potato harvest this year is projected to be by 25-30% lower than last year owing to the high temperatures and shortage of rain. Petru Iliev, chairman of the Association of Potato Producers “SOLANA-M”, has told IPN that the internal needs will be about 90% satisfied.

“The early and middle season potatoes yielded better, but the late season potatoes didn’t develop enough,” stated Petru Iliev. In other years, the producers gathered about 400,000 tonnes of potatoes nationwide. This year the potato crop is expected to be of 290,000-300,000 tonnes.

When it is hot, it is difficult to cultivate potatoes as these are more exposed to scratches and other mechanical defects that can affect their quality and can lead to decay.