Briceni to host First Potato Festival

The First Potato Festival “More than a second bread” will take place in Corjeuti village, Briceni district, on November 11. The festival will promote the potato culture and the quality of potato dishes. According to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vasile Bumacov, growing potatoes is one of Moldova’s successes and it is largely farmed in Briceni, Info-Prim Neo reports. The festival program includes a fair of farm products, of craftsmen and a drawing contest. There will be an exhibition of latest technologies for growing potatoes, followed by a music and dance show with local and national artists. There will also be a contest of potato dishes, with tastings and an exhibition of vegetables stands. For years, the inhabitants of Corjeuti village have been earning a living by growing potatoes. They were the first to farm potatoes on large areas and to invest significantly in potatoes. In 2011, the area of potato farms in Briceni district increased by 30% and the production covered double the country’s need. Potato is the fourth most important source of energy among foods after rice, wheat and corn. The Minister said that a few years ago, Moldova began to produce enough potatoes to cover the internal demand without imports. However, the country still lacks the technology to obtain seed potatoes. Vasile Bumacov also spoke about this year’s harsh drought and said that potato farmers were affected as well. He fears that Moldova might experience a deficit of potatoes by the end of the winter.