Struggling potato farmers make SOS appeal to 'save our spuds'

East Anglian farmers are calling for political action to save the Great British potato amid fears over the impact of extreme weather and high production costs.

The future of the homegrown household staple has come under increasing pressure, with growers battling drought and floods in the last three years, and months of heavy rain this season.

Farmers have reported significant delays in the lifting of the 2023 crop and a further delay in planting the 2024 crop.

At the same time, costs of key inputs like fertiliser and energy for storing potatoes have remained "unsustainably high", with the cost of production in the sector increasing by 28pc during the past two years, says the National Farmers' Union (NFU).

British potatoes are usually available to buy all year round, with the average person in the UK eating an estimated 33kg every year,

But consecutive years of extreme, volatile weather and soaring costs have taken their toll on family businesses, leading to a tightening supply.

Farmer Andrew Blenkiron, managing director of Elveden Farms, on the Norfolk/ Suffolk border near Thetford (Image: NFU)

Farmer Andrew Blenkiron, managing director of Elveden Farms, on the Norfolk/ Suffolk border near Thetford, said: “The future of British potatoes is at risk.

“East Anglia is a big potato growing region and this is a very worrying situation.

“Potato growers here make a major contribution to the local economy so the success of this sector is vital to the whole region.”

Mr Blenkiron, a former NFU Suffolk chairman, added: “Farmers need confidence to grow their businesses.

“With the general election coming up we need political parties to put forward policies that boost homegrown food production.”

The suggested policies include a proactive management plan for watercourses to reduce the risk of flooding and ensure growers of thirsty potato crops have access to water in times of drought.

The NFU is also calling on the government to deliver an agricultural budget of £5.5bn, including schemes to support potato growers to drive productivity and adapt to climate change, particularly through funding for new reservoirs and cold storage facilities.

The union has also urged supermarkets to continue to support suppliers by maintaining the relaxation of specifications to ensure that quality potatoes aren’t going to waste.

NFU potato policy group vice chairman Alastair Heath said: “A number of growers have made the difficult choice to reduce production to minimise losses, and the relentless wet weather has put many more growers weeks behind schedule. For some, profits have been all but wiped out.

“While it’s unlikely to lead to empty shelves this year, this pressure on the homegrown crop is an indication that we need urgent action to prevent the situation getting worse."