Inside Potatoes
Belgium potato provinces cut cultivation
The acreage for ware potatoes in Belgium shows a sharp decrease of 7,6% this year. Good for 6.700 hectares. But, where in the country have arable farmers started cutting back? An analysis of the figures per province shows that there are differences.
Boer&Bunder Flanders calculates – based on the annual CAP statement – that 52.184 hectares of ware potatoes are grown here. This means that Wallonia accounts for 30.548 hectares of potatoes. Unfortunately, official figures for 2020 and 2021 are not (yet) available in the French-speaking part. In Flanders, the acreage falls by 6,6% for the main harvest. Exactly how big that is in Wallonia is still a work in progress. If we assume 35.000 hectares of acreage in 2020, the decrease this season will be 12,7%. Much more than previously stated. Estimates came in at 8%.
Antwerp is growing
In Flanders, the province of West Flanders is the largest in terms of potato cultivation. Not surprising, it is also the largest Flemish province and a real arable region. This year the area is 22.500 hectares. A decrease of 2.600 hectares from a year earlier. East Flanders is in second place with 2 hectares of ware potatoes. This is more than 12.200 hectares less than in 1.000. The decrease in the provinces of Limburg and Flemish Brabant is much smaller, at 2020 to 200 hectares.
The exception to the rule is the province of Antwerp. There, potato cultivation has increased by 450 hectares to 5.240 hectares. In total, 3.700 hectares less ware potatoes will be grown in Flanders this season for the main harvest. These are crops that are delivered and stored from land.
Long-term growth
It is visible that especially in Antwerp and Limburg potato cultivation has increased in 11 years. The large potato provinces show a fairly stable cultivation. Nevertheless, the crop as a whole has grown by 16% in 11 years. If we look at the 4-year average, the cultivation this year is a lot smaller at 6%.
In Wallonia, the province of Hainaut (Hainaut) is by far the largest potato supplier. As a real arable region, this is not surprising. It is the largest province in the country. Nearly 2019 hectares of ware potatoes were grown in 18.000. Walloon Brabant and Namur are in joint second place. Liège also has almost as many potatoes. If we compare those figures with 2016, growth in cultivation is particularly visible in the last 3 provinces. Hainaut has always been a large growing region and shows little fluctuation.
Alternatives
As an alternative to potatoes, more winter wheat is mainly grown by arable farmers. In Flanders, 8,5% more has been sown, while the areas of spring wheat and barley remain stable. In addition to winter wheat (almost 64.000 hectares), winter barley is a substantial crop with 13.360 hectares. Much more than in the Netherlands. The largest crop (after grass) is cut and grain maize with 172.000 hectares.
In Wallonia, the cultivation of grain is still by far the most important. 125.000 hectares are being cultivated. Mainly wheat: 105.900 hectares. With almost 50.000 hectares, maize is substantial, but a lot smaller than in Flanders. Sugar beet is also a large crop with 32.000 hectares compared to 19.000 in Flanders. It is also striking that in Wallonia 9.800 hectares of land are still set aside as fallow. There is therefore still potential for expanding potato cultivation. However, it is usually found in northern France rather than in Belgium.
Smaller harvest
The acreage is 1, the yield another. The 5-year average of the hectare yield is 42,9 tons, including the very low-scoring 2018. At the current acreage, this means a volume of 3,55 million tons. Last year that was still 4,138 million tons. That's a 14% drop. The 5-year average is 4,23 million tons. With an ever-growing Belgian chip industry, the question is whether enough potatoes are available.
The growing season is not running everywhere in Belgium this year either prosperous† After a cold start, it is rain that affects the crops. Significant rainfall is now leaving its mark locally. Especially in the middle and east of the country. In July, the official RMI signedweather station a precipitation record of 166,5 millimeters where normally 77 millimeters falls in a month. In addition, the temperature was below average throughout the month. 3 summer days were measured.
Boerenbusiness organizes a round table discussion at the beginning of September about the future of potato cultivation and the chip market. Prominent companies in the sector are joining us. Do you have questions for the experts on this subject? Send them to before August 25th d.ballast@boerenbusiness. Nl
Niels van der Boom
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