In the 2025 season, Ukrainian agricultural producers harvested 50% more potatoes than last year. This was stated by Mykola Furdyga, Director of the Institute of Potato Growing.

As reported by “Interfax-Ukraine”, this was facilitated by a 25% expansion of the area under cultivation and a further quarter increase in yield due to weather conditions.

“It’s very easy to calculate how many potatoes we produce. If the average selling price from farms is 8 UAH/kg, and last year it was 20 UAH/kg, then we have 50% more product,” he explained.

Furdyga noted that even with deep processing, the country does not need such a volume of potatoes. He recalled that in 2024, due to a record drought, the harvest decreased by 18%, and the state was forced to import over 123 thousand tons of produce to cover domestic needs.

The scientist also drew attention to structural changes in the industry.

“For example, in Vinnytsia or Zhytomyr regions, there are villages where households used to plant 30 hectares of potatoes, and now if they plant 2 hectares, that’s still good,” said Mykola Furdyga.  

He noted that potato growing is becoming unprofitable and labor-intensive for the population, while farms and agricultural holdings are gradually taking leading positions in production.