AgroPages-Statistics Netherlands: Area of seed onion reaches record size-Agricultural news

The production of onions and potatoes increased in 2019. Compared to a year earlier, the onion area increased by nearly nine and seven per cent. The area of potatoes was expanded by more than two per cent in one year. This is according to preliminary results of the agricultural census 2019 of Statistics Netherlands.

According to the latest agricultural census of April 2019, arable crops are grown on 536,000 hectares in the Netherlands. That is four per cent more than a year earlier.

Area of seed onions reaches record size

In 2019, the area of seed onions increases by nearly ten per cent compared to the previous year. As a result, the area reaches a record size of nearly 28,000 hectares. Compared to 2000, production has doubled.

In seed and plan onions, production has decreased slightly. During the last agricultural census, the area amounted to nearly 9,000 hectares, a decrease of 1.5 per cent compared to last year. Of the seed and plant onions, 70 per cent is in its second year, 25 per cent is first year and five per cent is planted with shallots.

Increase in consumption potato area

The production surface of consumption potatoes increased to more than 79,000 hectares (+4.1%) in 2019. The area hasn’t been this large since 2000. In that year, consumption potatoes were grown on 87,000 hectares. On average, consumption potatoes were grown on 73,000 hectares every year since 2000.

The areas of seed potatoes and starch potatoes increased slightly in one year. In seed potatoes, production surface is now 44,000 hectares (+1.3%), and in starch potatoes it’s 45,000 hectares (0.6%).