Nearly 70% of the seed potato market in Ukraine consists of uncertified planting material, according to Georg von Nolcken, CEO of Continental Farmers Group, the country’s largest potato producer. EastFruit reports this citing SEEDS.
According to the industry leader, a significant share of growers continues to use small-sized table potatoes left after sorting as planting material for the following season. This practice remains common among both small farmers and household producers.
“Many growers keep the small fraction of table potatoes in storage each year and then plant it as seed. However, the market is gradually becoming more professional. Even household producers want to plant better-quality potatoes, while small farmers are increasingly seeking certified seed material. This indicates clear growth potential for the sector,” Georg von Nolcken told the magazine Plantator.
At the same time, Kostiantyn Shytiuk, Chief Operating Officer of Continental Farmers Group, noted that large producers cannot always offer a wide assortment of seed potato varieties.
“The company focuses primarily on farmers and professional agricultural producers, which is why we have optimized our seed potato portfolio to around six or seven key chip-processing and table varieties that we work with directly,” he explained.
Shytiuk also emphasized that the table potato market remains relatively limited and volatile. As a result, the company is exploring several potato processing projects while also prioritizing the development of seed production.
According to him, Ukraine still faces challenges related to the culture of using certified seed potatoes, as well as the overall production volumes and availability of high-quality seed material
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