Higher prices and shortages of potatoes will hit the country in the coming months as black frost destroys potato production in parts of the Limpopo region in the north of the country. The limited supply of potatoes means the cost of potatoes and frozen chips will rise starting in September, as Sibuliso Duba reports for IOL.
M&R Marketing, based at Epping Fresh Produce Market and specialising in exporting and distributing fresh-produced fruit and vegetables, has issued a notice on a potato shortage expected to get worse in September. According to this agency, farmers experienced frost for six days a few weeks ago and they had not seen frost like that for 20 years.
M&R Marketing buyer Mohammed Adam said “the black frost has killed a lot of potatoes in the Limpopo region, and that has caused a shortage. The Western Cape is not in full production yet, as well as the Northern Cape and other parts of the country. That’s why the volume of potatoes will drop. There will be less volume and the prices will increase.”
Reacting to the notice, Information and Regional manager at Potatoes SA, Ferdinand Coetzee, said, “According to a survey we did in Limpopo, fewer potatoes are expected in September. The survey suggests more or less 7.4 million 10kg bags will be lost due to frost.”
The country, which ranks as the third-largest potato producer in Africa with a 2023 output of 2.4 million tons, behind Egypt and Algeria, relies heavily on potatoes as a staple food, alongside maize meal and bread.
Source: IOL. Full story here
Related: Potato prices spike 15% in a week after black frost hits Limpopo crop
Related: Potato supply stable despite frost concerns, says Potatoes SA
Image: Credit IOL
Video: Credit SABC
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