Potato situation in Hungary: cheaper, but not without problems

Climate change: the slow killer of potato production

The effects of climate change are no longer only visible in extreme heat waves and droughts, but also have a significant impact on agricultural production. Potatoes, as a staple food, are particularly sensitive to these changes. Hot, dry summers and decreasing production areas pose a serious threat to the yield and future food supply.

According to the President of the National Potato Association and Product Council, Gábor Kecskés, the current situation is not a reason to panic. The domestic yield is satisfactory this year, and no price increases are expected. Prices are around 20% lower than last year, partly due to a bumper harvest in Western and Northern Europe. However, Hungarian producers continue to face challenges from falling incomes and drought conditions.

Potato imports: growing dependency

Hungary produces around 200,000-240,000 tonnes of potatoes annually, but regularly imports 40,000 tonnes, mainly from Poland, Germany, Belgium and France. Domestic production has been declining in recent years, while imports have become increasingly important in supply. This is partly due to the reduction in domestic production areas, which is exacerbated by climate change and economic uncertainties.

Lajos Braunmüller, editor-in-chief of Agrársektor, pointed out that while the quality is currently adequate, there are still problems with the quantity. Due to the droughty summers, potato yields in the region have generally decreased, which portends further problems in the long term.
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