Russia: Crimea lost part of potato crop due to seed death due to abnormal heat

Farmers in the Republic of Crimea have seen a significant loss in their potato harvest due to abnormal heat and high soil temperatures, with an anticipated decrease in agricultural production by 18.6% in 2024, according to the Ministry of Economic Development. This decline is expected to cause shortages in grain, milk, and grapes, as other factors such as bad weather and periods of drought also impact the region's crop yields. The head of the Crimean Research Institute of Agriculture reported a 50% or more drop in the harvest of spring crops.

Farmers in the Republic of Crimea have lost part of their potato harvest, as abnormal heat and high soil temperatures have caused the planted seeds to perish, Valery Khasitoshvili, a deputy of the regional State Council and chairman of the Pravda agricultural production cooperative, told TASS. "This year there were unusual temperatures, the soil was 82 degrees. And the potato seeds, when they were already planted, fell off. And part of the harvest was gone. We expected to harvest 10 thousand tons of potatoes, but we harvested 800 tons. Therefore, now everyone needs to think about seeds in order to plant more," he said. The Ministry of Economic Development of the Republic of Crimea predicts a decrease in agricultural production in the region in 2024 compared to the previous year by 18.6%. A shortage of grain and milk is expected due to bad weather and other factors that ...