OREANDA-NEWS.  August 08, 2012. This year in all types of farms it is planted 1.432 million hectares of potatoes. This enables harvesting at the level of last year - about 23 million tons. This was informed by Oleksandr Sen, the Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food.

"The area of planting potatoes is 1.4 million hectares this year, at the level of last one. Weather conditions in the major regions where it are being grown - the northern and central regions - can be defined as satisfactory. This makes it possible to expect potato production (according to regions) in the amount of about 23 million tons," said Deputy Minister.

He also points out that annually Ukrainians consume on an average only one-third of this amount - 6 million tons. Therefore, the proposal of potato in the market is sufficient, that will enable ensuring Ukrainians’ consumer demand.

The Ministry specialists also stressed that, despite of the total production of potatoes about 97% are being cultivated in individual farms, vegetable and potato storages are carrying out the necessary arrangements for its wholesale purchasing and storing.

This in turn makes it possible to keep the price of potatoes at the appropriate level.