In Wallonia, the southern, French-speaking part of Belgium, the acreage for ware potatoes is increasing. This while the acreage in Flanders is falling. This causes the Belgian potato area to decrease.
The latest figures from Fiwap make it clear that the area in Wallonia amounts to 43.841 hectares. The size of the area in Wallonia has therefore increased less sharply than was previously expected; then the expectation was 46.000 hectares. In 2017, the area increased by almost 10%.
Change in Flanders
In Flanders, the area of consumption potatoes has decreased by 5,5% to approximately 51.000 hectares. That is a slightly less significant decline was previously estimated. Compared to last season, this decrease is extra striking. At the time, the area increased by 4%. In 2016 grew the consumption potato area in Flanders by 15%. There therefore appears to be a change in the Flemish area.
The area of early potatoes in particular fell sharply in Flanders; there was a visible decrease of 24% to just under 8.000 hectares.
Total area
In total, the Belgian area amounts to almost 95.000 hectares, slightly smaller than previous expectations. The NEPG 1 month ago, the Belgian area was still estimated at 96.617 hectares.