Potato growers in Hokkaido, Japan's largest potato-producing region, are reporting lower yields this season as prolonged summer heat impacts crop quality and size.
The Tokachi region, which alone accounts for around 30% of Japan's potato output, has been particularly affected. Farmer Yoshii Takuya, who cultivates the Danshaku variety and processing potatoes on his 9-hectare farm in Memuro, said this year's harvest is showing unusual defects. "More potatoes are coming in smaller and irregularly shaped, which we attribute to the record-breaking summer heat," Yoshii explained.
He estimates his overall yields are down 10–20% compared with normal years. The Danshaku variety, widely consumed in Japan, is especially sensitive to heat stress, while processing potatoes destined for chips are also showing weaker sizing.
Japan has faced three consecutive summers of extreme heat, raising concern among growers about long-term production risks. "I'm worried this kind of weather will become the norm," Yoshii said. "We can only hope for more stable conditions, but it's also important that heat-tolerant potato varieties are developed."
Hokkaido remains central to Japan's potato supply, but producers warn that continued climate volatility could challenge both domestic consumption and raw material supply for the processing industry.
Source: www3.nhk.or.jp