Austrian farmers under pressure from Russia import ban

08/09/2014 12:00 - 462 Views

VIENNA, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Russian import ban on agricultural products from the European Union has put pressure on Austrian farmers amid high yield harvests and falling prices.

Potato prices have fallen two-thirds, from the usual 40 U.S. cents per kilogram to the current 13 cents, with cabbage and onion facing similar drop, ORF reported Thursday.

Stefan Hamedinger of the Chamber of Agriculture in Upper Austria said the price decreases are also largely due to a backlog of goods intended for the Dutch market.

The particularly fruitful harvest this year means farmers are dependent on consumers choosing locally-grown products in supermarkets, despite competition from products grown abroad that often undercut the domestic variants.

The Austrian trade industry has also supported local farmers with special promotions for tomatoes and apples.

A recovery for the fruit and vegetable market is not yet in sight. However, the agricultural sector anticipates that the worst of the price development situation is yet to come.

Source: Xinhua