Dramatic decrease in rapeseed area in Hungary

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 10. 14. 11:42

The cultivation of autumn rapeseed shows a significant decline in Hungary. While in 2018, the rapeseed area was 330,000 hectares, this year it is expected that it will not even reach 130,000 hectares, which causes serious concern in the agricultural sector. Several factors lie behind the decrease: plant protection challenges, extreme weather and market conditions all contributed to the difficulties of growing rape.

The year 2018 was the peak of rapeseed cultivation in Hungary, when the plant was sown on more than 330,000 hectares, and the crop yield exceeded 1 million tons. In the following years, there were smaller increases, but the extreme drought and declining yields gradually discouraged the cultivation of rapeseed. According to data from the Central Statistical Office, in 2021, only 209,000 hectares of rapeseed were planted, which represented a 20% decrease compared to the previous year. In 2022, as a result of the drought, the sown area decreased by another 16%, falling to 180,000 hectares.

This year, based on preliminary data, the rapeseed area does not even reach 130,000 hectares, which represents a drop of more than 60% compared to 2018. It is a serious challenge for the actors of the sector that, in addition to plant protection problems and weather risks, the fluctuations of the global market also adversely affect the cultivation of rapeseed.

The situation highlights that adaptation to changing climatic and market conditions is essential for the agricultural sector. For rapeseed cultivation to start growing again, new strategies and developments will be needed to help farmers overcome environmental and market challenges.