Azerbaijani potatoes putRussian farmers under pressure

Farmers in Russia’s Novgorod and Vladimir regions have complained that major retail chains have sharply reduced purchases of local potatoes and vegetables.

According to Izvestia, retailers including X5, Magnit and Lenta have since March-April increasingly preferred potatoes from Azerbaijan, Egypt and China over Russian produce.

Farmers say the shift toward imports could force them to destroy local crops, increase debt and push some producers toward bankruptcy.

They said Russian potatoes have already fallen by 30-40% and are being sold below cost, while imported products are being sold at higher prices.