LIPOVCI, Slovenia — The village of Lipovci, home to about 1,000 residents in northeastern Slovenia, hosted its 26th international festival of roasted potatoes in September. Hundreds of farmers and potato enthusiasts from across the country gathered to prepare their own versions of the national dish.
Matjaz Lavric, from Ljubljana, has attended for 15 years. "Life just isn't the same without them," Lavric said. "When I'm home, potatoes are always on the menu."
Yet local potatoes are increasingly scarce. The Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry of Slovenia estimates this year's harvest saw losses between 30 and 90 percent, primarily due to severe drought across Europe. Slovenia produced only about one-third of its total potato consumption this year, a decline driven by higher fertilizer prices, restrictions on pesticide use and low farm-gate prices.
Janez Jambrosic, a small farmer from Velike Lasce in southern Slovenia, lost half his crop. "The drought has left its mark," he said.
The drought peaked during the first half of August, hitting later potato varieties hardest. Lavric's potatoes, sourced from a friend's farm, were smaller this year. Marija Bev from Dobrna in eastern Slovenia harvested her family crop at the end of July, before peak heat.
The shortages extend across Europe. An analysis released Thursday by the U.K.-based Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit suggests the summer drought will reduce the potato harvest by approximately 3.1 million tonnes in major exporting nations, including Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Tom Lancaster, a food and farming analyst for the unit, said potatoes are among Europe's thirstiest crops and were expected to be hit hard by record-breaking summer heat.
Drought also damaged other Slovenian harvests, including corn for animal feed and wine grapes, with some corn yields almost entirely wiped out.
