Drought in France Slashes Potato Harvest by 2 Million Tons
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Extreme heat and drought conditions in France have led to a 23% drop in potato production, resulting in an estimated loss of approximately 2 million tons.
Extreme heat and dry weather conditions experienced in France during the summer months have caused significant losses in potato production. According to data from the producer organization UNPT, the country's main potato harvest is expected to be 23% lower than last year, with an estimated yield loss of approximately 2 million tons. As reported by Bloomberg, extreme weather conditions have negatively affected not only potatoes but also other staple agricultural products such as corn.
The average yield for food-grade potatoes in the country is projected to drop to 37.4 tons per hectare this year. This level marks the second-lowest yield in the last 30 years, following 2022. Furthermore, producers reduced their planting areas by 10% compared to the previous season due to surplus supply, accelerating the decline in total production.