Crisis in the potato sector in the Canary Islands

The potato industry in the Canary Islands (Spain) is facing a serious crisis, with thousands of kilos of local potatoes accumulating without buyers and in danger of going to waste. This year, drought had already hit the crop hard, and the situation has been further complicated by the arrival of imported potatoes from Egypt, which are disrupting the market for island farmers, local media report.

 

The challenges for Canary Island potato growers started from problems with seeds and intensified due to the extreme heat and lack of water. In addition, Egyptian potatoes, which are sold at much lower prices than local ones, are forcing middlemen to buy Canarian produce at prices below production costs.

 

In response to this difficult situation, farmers in the Canary Islands have had to take drastic measures, such as storing up to 200,000 kilos of potatoes in cold storage or trying to sell them directly on their own, seeking to reduce losses from a crop that has already been challenging to produce.