According to the most recent statistics of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, which are still provisional, Spain will devote 47,639 hectares to produce potatoes in the 2022 season, i.e. 0.8% less area than in the previous season.
Extra-early potatoes
According to estimates, the area of extra-early potatoes has decreased by 2.9% this season, to 3,149 hectares. The largest year-on-year decreases in the hectares dedicated to these potatoes took place in the Canary Islands, which fell by 3.1% to 1,250 hectares, and in Murcia, where they decreased by 5.6%, going from 810 hectares to 765 hectares.
Early potatoes
In this category, the Ministry announces a slight 0.8% increase in surface area to 13,855 hectares.
Andalusia leads the cultivation of this potato segment with 5,265 hectares (-0.6%), 3,800 hectares of which are in Seville.
Andalusia is followed by the Canary Islands with 2,103 hectares and a 2.4% increase. Murcia experienced a 6.9% increase, where it grows to 5,296.
In the Valencian Community, the area dedicated to this type of potato has fallen by 0.7% to 1,393. Galicia stayed at 1,364 hectares, just like in the previous season, and the Balearic Islands registered a significant 5.5% decrease, going from 1,005 hectares to 950 hectares.
Mid-season potatoes
The area devoted to mid-season potatoes has decreased by 1.2% to 30,635 hectares. Galicia leads this section, in terms of surface area, with 16,036 hectares, the same figure as in 2021.
The area devoted to this product in Castile and Leon decreased by 6.1%, going from 5,587 hectares to 5,246 hectares. This sector is dominated by Valladolid with 2,200 hectares, a lower number than the 2,354 it had in 2021; followed by Salamanca with 1,400 hectares, almost 100 less than in the previous campaign; Burgos with 751 hectares, the same as in the previous season, and Segovia with 300 hectares, one hundred less than the 400 hectares it had last season.
By contrast, Murcia recorded an increase of 12%, reaching 1,210 hectares. There is also an increase of almost 4% in Castilla La Mancha, with 1,251.
Andalusia has 2,403 hectares devoted to mid-season potatoes, which is in line with the area of 2021.
Source: agronewscastillayleon.com