Valencia onion and potato growers face EUR 18 million in losses

Onion and potato growers in Spain’s Valencia region are ending one of their worst seasons in recent years, with combined losses estimated at EUR 18 million, according to AVA-ASAJA.

The farmers’ association calculated losses of EUR 10 million for potatoes and EUR 8 million for onions. Many growers sold their crops below production costs, while others left produce unharvested because market prices did not cover collection expenses.

AVA-ASAJA linked the decline to large volumes of old-season potatoes from France and imports of onions and potatoes from countries including Chile, Peru, Israel, Egypt, Morocco, Senegal and New Zealand. The association said these supplies entered Spanish and European markets early in the sales period, weakening demand for local produce and delaying purchases until July.

Onion prices offered to growers fell to EUR 0.08 per kg, compared with production costs above EUR 0.25 per kg. Near the end of the season, prices dropped as low as EUR 0.03 per kg, leading some farmers to plough crops back into the soil or give them away.

Potato prices declined to around EUR 0.17 per kg, while production costs reached approximately EUR 0.30 per kg following increases in fuel, fertiliser and other input costs.

AVA-ASAJA president Cristóbal Aguado called for stronger support for local production and warned that more farmland could be abandoned unless onion, potato and other horticultural crops become profitable.

source and photo: avaasaja.org