Potato crisis in Lower Saxony: record harvest, but risk of bankruptcy!

Potato crisis in Lower Saxony: record harvest, but risk of bankruptcy!

Lower Saxony turned out to be a real adventure for potato farmers this year. Although the region has recorded its largest harvest in 25 years with a record harvest of over 13.4 million tonnes, many farmers are in a real crisis. As the District newspaper Reportedly, numerous potatoes are rotting in the fields because they cannot be harvested in time. The oversupply of potatoes has driven prices down and many farmers are facing financial difficulties.

“The harvest costs more than it brings in,” explains Thorsten Riggert, farmer and board member of the Union of the German Potato Industry (UNIKA). What is particularly problematic is that many farmers who have increased their acreage in recent years now have to foot the bill for their growth ambitions. While last year the market situation was satisfactory due to low yields per hectare, the large oversupply is causing serious problems this year.

The weather factor

“With normal weather, the expansion of the cultivated area could have been absorbed,” said Stefanie Sabet, Secretary General of the German Farmers’ Association. Good growing conditions across Europe have contributed to the general oversaturation of the market. For many farmers the situation is dramatic: potatoes without a buyer end up in biogas plants or are used as animal feed.

To counteract the misery, Riggert recommends refraining from growing free goods. This could help stabilize the situation and raise prices again. But whether these proposals are sufficient to resolve the crisis remains to be seen. The pressure on many businesses is increasing as consumers continue to search for high quality products.

A look at Mexico

The Parroquia de San Antonio de Padua in Hopelchén, Campeche, Mexico tells a completely different story. This Baroque parish church, built in the 18th century, is a stunning example of colonial architecture. If you dedicate yourself to this place, unfortunately various trade fairs are not available, all I can do is give interested visitors the address: “Domicilio Conocido, Colonia Centro, 24600, Hopelchén, Campeche.”

Ultimately, this also shows that the challenges in agriculture must be viewed not only locally, but also globally. While Lower Saxony suffers from an oversupply, other regions such as Mexico maintain a rich cultural tradition that is unique in its kind. The potato farmers in Lower Saxony are faced with the question: How can this crisis be transformed into a new opportunity?