Strawberry harvest in Stavropol Territory in 2023 down nearly 42% due to rain mixed with hail

STAVROPOL. July 14 (Interfax) - Farmers in Stavropol Territory have completed their mass harvest of open ground garden strawberries, collecting 180 tonnes of berries, Minister of Agriculture of Stavropol Territory Sergei Izmalkov told Interfax.

He said that 308 tonnes were harvested in 2022. The harvest decreased 41.6% due to bad weather.

"Unfavorable weather conditions have significantly affected this year's strawberry harvest. Heavy rainfall has affected the quality of the berry, and part of the crop has been damaged by hail," the minister said.

Part of the crop was saved thanks to farmers' extensive experience and compliance with agro-technological processes, he said. The average yield this year was 29.3 centners per hectare.

In total, nine enterprises are engaged in the cultivation of strawberries in Stavropol Territory, of which three are peasant farms. The maximum strawberry harvest area is concentrated in the Kirov district under the control of the Sovetsky Agro-Industrial cooperative, and comprises 27 hectares.