Local potato varieties in Moldova are becoming increasingly rare, and traditional Moldovan breeds may disappear entirely. Most potatoes currently cultivated in the country originate from the Netherlands or Germany. Even varieties sold with labels claiming to be "original Moldovan" are of foreign origin.
Some producers achieve yields of 40–50 tons per hectare, but the country still cannot meet domestic consumption, which is around 300,000 tons annually, or 100–110 kg per capita. In 2024, Moldova imported almost 2.5 times more potatoes than it produced to cover internal demand.
To meet annual consumption without imports, domestic cultivation areas would need to expand, focusing on local varieties. However, the lower sale price of domestically grown potatoes compared to imported potatoes limits incentives for local production.
Potatoes are currently cultivated on approximately 24,000 hectares nationwide. Farmers are eligible for subsidies for planting and harvesting machinery, as well as irrigation systems. Legal adjustments have also allowed the import of seed potatoes from the European Union. Despite this, authorities do not control retail prices.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Moldova produced nearly 55,000 tons of potatoes in 2024, a decline of over 20% compared to 2023. At the same time, imports continued to increase. The largest import volumes were from Ukraine (35,000 tons), Belarus (24,000 tons), and Romania (almost 2,000 tons).
The growing reliance on imports reflects the increasing difficulty of meeting domestic demand with local production. While some producers continue cultivating potatoes locally, the majority of the market is supplied by imported varieties, and the original Moldovan breeds are no longer widely grown.
Source: agroexpert.md