SURPLUS OF POTATOES LOWERS PRICES

BERLIN, MAY 28 /SRNA/ - German farmers are left with a surplus of potatoes due to a bumper harvest and a crop that has filled warehouses, DW reports.

Last year's potato crop reached about 13.9 million tons, the largest in 25 years, and half of it was produced in Lower Saxony, which has largely contributed to the decline in prices.

The oversupply has forced some farmers to divert potatoes to biogas plants instead of selling them for food.

Potatoes remain a staple of German cuisine, present in dishes from French fries to dumplings and deeply rooted in the country's food culture.

Globally, potatoes are the fourth most important crop after rice, wheat and maize. China is the largest producer, followed by India, Ukraine and Russia, while Germany is sixth in the world.

Despite its importance, the crop has relatively limited genetic diversity in Europe, making it more vulnerable to diseases and environmental pressures.