Potatoes will become more expensive this fall

The potato harvest in Naxos this year is estimated at only 1,800 tons, which is affected by the lack of water. Until last year, about 6,000 tons were harvested from the fields. Producers say the famous potato variety is at risk of disappearing.

The drought has reduced potato production by 70% this year. A “danger signal” has been issued among producers in Naxos over the situation caused by the lack of water on the island. The presidents of the country's cooperatives raised this issue at the 15th Naxos Potato Festival. Although in previous years the festival was celebrated with the “main character” – the “Naxos Potato”, this year officials of the island's Agricultural Cooperative decided to give it a a form of intense protest, the main problem of which is the lack of water, which threatens the cultivation of root crops.

«The 15th Potato Festival in Naxos is It's not a holiday, but a rally. Protests were voiced not only by EAS Naxos, but also by cooperatives from all over Greece“,” EAS Naxos President Dimitris Kapounis told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency.

During the meeting, the head of cooperatives emphasizedthat there is a risk of disappearance of the Naxos potato crop, as well as condemned the inaction of the competent central, regional and local authorities for their failure to prevent the situation in time and take concerted and planned actions to provide water for irrigation.

The cooperative management noted in their proposals that “the damage should be subsidized through measures”de minimis” (at least in a minimal sense)“, since the Naxos potato is a P.O.P. product (food product with protected designation of origin, protected by geographical indications of production and guaranteed traditional distinctive qualities.

Speaking to APE-MPE, the President of the National Association of Agricultural Cooperatives (ETHEAS) and the President of the Kalavryta Agricultural and Dairy Cooperative, Pavlos Satolias, noted that the state “must take initiatives to create better conditions for production,” which, he said, includes “the construction of large water bodies.”

«Water shortages threaten Greek agri-food production, especially in two PDOs: Naxos, Graviera and Patata“, – Mr. Satolias noted. Commenting on the current situation, Mr. Satolias emphasized that “the shortage of products in stores will primarily hit the consumer's pocket, since they will be sold at a higher price.”

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