The gross yield of seed onions is expected to fall by 1,4% this year. This is apparent from the preliminary crop harvest estimates of the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).
CBS reports today (Thurs 29 October) that the gross yield of seed onions in 2020 is expected to amount to 1.350.337 tons. That is slightly less than in 2019 when the counter in the final harvest estimate was 1.369.567 tons of seed onions. Nevertheless, the yield is still above the average of the past 10 years, which is just below 1,3 million tons.
Smaller acreage, fewer onions
It is no great surprise that the yield forecast prescribes a decline in seed onions. Earlier it turned out that the acreage this year shrunk 0,7% compared to 2019. However, with 27.400 hectares, the acreage is still substantial. Last year, the acreage increased by almost 10%, but in 2020 there will be a small contraction.
The growing season adds to that. The conditions in the spring in particular had a major impact on the emergence and status of the crop. As a result, it soon became clear that the no top yield would become. At the same time, it can be noted that this year big differences are per region, grower and plot.
Lower hectare yield
The yield per hectare of seed onions in 2020 is estimated at just over 49,5 tons. That is 1,6% lower than last year's final hectare yield, which amounted to 50,3 tons per hectare. In combination with the area shrinkage, this leads to a decrease in the expected gross yield of seed onions.
The gross yield is calculated on the basis of the cultivated area and not on the harvested area. As a result, the yield of the final estimate may be lower.
Yield second-year onion sets
In addition to seed onions, research was also conducted for the first time in 2020 into the yield of second-year onion sets. This is based on a yield of 53,9 tons per hectare. With an area of 6.487 hectares, it is expected that gross 349.617 tons of second-year onion sets will be harvested this year. That is about a quarter of the seed onions yield.