Thuringia's Potato Boom Falling Short
In an unexpected turn of events, farmers in Thuringia have seen a significant spike in potato harvest this year. Compared to the previous year, there's been a nearly 33% increase, and the long-term average per hectare has been surpassed by a remarkable 6%. With an average of 37.9 tons of potatoes harvested per hectare, the total yield amounts to a substantial 45,100 tons.
However, despite this impressive boost, it's important to note that this harvest still falls short compared to 2014 figures. With a nearly doubled cultivated area, farmers managed to harvest a staggering 91,400 tons of potatoes back then.
The Farmers' Association in Thuringia attributes this improvement to the region's above-average rainfall, which undeniably benefited the crops. Yet, a spokesperson reported that the increased yield has no impact on local prices since the quantity is too meager to satisfy Thuringia's demand alone. In fact, the region heavily depends on imports, with countries like Egypt being major potato suppliers.
Though these figures display an impressive gain in potato production, it may not be enough to reduce Thuringia's reliance on imports. Factors like market demand and supply chain, potato quality and variety, economic considerations, and climate and agricultural conditions can all contribute to the necessity of bringing in additional supplies. Conducting further research and collecting more detailed data on Thuringia's agricultural industry would help shed light on these dynamics and provide a clearer picture of the region's potato market.
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