The acreage of seed potatoes in the Netherlands is shrinking slightly this year, to 46.570 hectares. This is evident from data from Boer&Bunder. After 4 years, the acreage of potato starting material stabilizes. In which province is the largest increase noticeable and where is the cultivation declining?
If you talk about the surface area of seed potatoes, there are 2 sizes to measure with. On the one hand, the data from the Combined Statement of RVO.nl. The online tool is based on this Boer&Bunder.nl his numbers. This figure for 2020 amounts to 46.572 hectares. A minus of 70 hectares with 2019. In addition, there are the declaration figures from the NAK inspection service. This year they amount to 41.849 hectares, which is 180 hectares less than last year.
The difference is explained by the gross and net area. The exact area of seed potatoes is specified for the inspection, without headlands, rows and other fallow strips. The entire plot is included in the Combined Declaration. A difference of more than 4.700 hectares. In this article we discuss the gross figures.
Groningen is big in seed potatoes
By far the most seed potatoes are grown in the province of Groningen. In 2016, the area in that province exceeded 10.000 hectares for the first time. A dip was noticeable between 2012 and 2015, after cultivation had already approached this level from 2016 onwards. This year too, the area has increased by 1,3%, to 10.373 hectares. In 10 years the increase is 11%. This does not make it the largest area ever. In 2017, an additional 148 hectares were cultivated.
Of the total area, the municipality of Het Hogeland is responsible for 60% of the seed potato cultivation in Groningen. The municipality of Loppersum is below this with a share of 13%. The top 3 is completed by the municipality of Westerkwartier, with 753 hectares.
Wadden coast
The focus of seed potato cultivation along the Wadden coast is also visible in the figures for Friesland. With 7.787 hectares, this province grows the most seed potatoes after Flevoland. Of this, 39% will grow this year in the municipality of Waadhoeke and 38% in the municipality of Noardeast-Fryslân. The total Wadden area amounts to 13.530 hectares of seed potatoes. So almost 30% of all seed potatoes are grown along the Wadden coast. An important part of German seed potato cultivation grows further east, along the German Wadden coast. Literally a seed potato hotspot.
In terms of seed potato density, the Noordoostpolder comes in 2nd place. 15% of the Dutch area is growing here. Good for 7.174 hectares. If you put this polder in the province list, it ranks fourth, after Friesland. With over 1.476 hectares, seed potato cultivation in Eastern Flevoland is much less evident. However, the rotation in Flevoland is the most intensive. At least 60 in 1 potatoes are grown on 4% of the arable land. In Groningen this is on 30% of all plots.
South Netherlands at 5
North Holland is in 4th place with 6.787 hectares. The cultivation focuses in the Wieringermeer. The municipality of Hollands Kroon covers more than 4.000 hectares. Texel stands out in the list. Almost 1.000 hectares of seed potatoes grow there. We come across the first southern province at number 5. This is Zeeland, with 4.177 hectares. Most of this grows in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen: 2.865 hectares. Almost 70%. The rest is spread across the islands.
Of all Dutch municipalities, cultivation has fallen the most this year in the Gelderland Oude IJsselstreek. This concerns more than 130 hectares, which means that cultivation here has decreased by 43%. The area in the province has decreased by 1%. The municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân comes in 2nd. Here the area decreased by 14% and on 3 we find Noardeast-Fryslân with a decrease of 2%. The largest increase can be attributed to Sluis in Zeeland, with an increase of 11% (105 hectares). Berkelland in Gelderland ranks 3 with 87 hectares. Waadhoeke is on 3 (85 hectares).
TBM seed potatoes
Of the total seed potato area, 2.770 hectares have been set aside this year for the cultivation of Crop Protection Measures Starch Potatoes (TBM) seed potatoes. This surface can be called stable. By far the largest part grows in Drenthe. Of the more than 3.000 hectares of potters, 50% is TBM. Groningen has an area of 864 hectares of TBM seed potatoes.
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