October 25, 2012. Sverdlovsk Region’s agricultural companies completed their potato harvesting for this year, the regional Government’s Press & Information Administration reports.

‘The harvesting of potatoes fit within the best agronomical terms, despite the rainy weather this fall. Our farmers managed to harvest everything before cold weather has set in. Enough potatoes have been harvested to fully meet the local population’s needs, provide plenty of those to socially important facilities, and keep the price within reasonable limits, which suits both the customers and the producers,’ says Sverdlovsk Region Agriculture & Food Minister Mikhail Kopytov.

According to Kopytov, 625,000 tons of potatoes were harvested in the region, with yield coming to about 120 centners per hectare. The summer’s draught brought the figures down on the last year, but the drop in the yield was compensated for through planting more potatoes on greater amount of land in the fall. In 2012, the region’s farmers increased the potato planting area by 14.5% in comparison with the year 2011, so the total area came to 15,500 hectares.

At the moment, potato producers charge the wholesale price of 8 RUR to 10.5 RUR per kilo of potatoes.