The North-Western European Potato Growers (NEPG) have reported an increase in potato area across the five largest potato-producing countries in Europe.

In provisional figures, the NEPG pegged the area planted under potatoes in Belgium, Germany, France, Netherlands and Britain at 609,000ha.

Growth

This represents a growth of 2.4 % compared on last year and 8.4 % compared with the five-year average.

Although it is not the final area figure, the provisional figures would suggest that this could be the largest area ever planted.

The report states that the fear of a lower supply of seed potatoes did not hamper this year’s potato area, as smaller grades of seed and more seed cuts were used.

Planting was earlier in all five countries. However, due to the cold start of the growing season, crop development is now at an average level.