Spain: Onion production reduced in the next campaign

The next onion production could be reduced by 20% due to the transfer of hybrid varieties to varieties from Castilla-La Mancha, which have a smaller cost. This planning was made by producers after a drop in prices due to over production in the last campaign, despite the excellent quality.

According to the Association of Onion Producers in Castilla-La Mancha, Luis Fernando Rubion said: "It was a real blow for producers last year and they don't want it to happen again. So the only option is to plant the red varieties".

The problem with over production, he said, has to do with a global level and affects everybody. Not even storage can be planned as long as there's competition from big exporters like the Netherlands.

In that sense, Rubio said that "if it was only a Spanish problem, there might be a solution, but it comes from Europe where the production was a record in many countries and that affects everybody".

The only thing that might play in favor of the Spanish onion is the fact that is a new onion and that might "bring prices up a bit".

The only thing clear for producers is that another bad year, with the high harvesting costs and "I believe we can't recover from it".

Source: Eldiadigital