Hungarian potato production has declined significantly

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 03. 04. 11:27

Potato production and consumption in Hungary have decreased drastically in recent decades. The previously 15,000 hectares of cultivated area now only covers 6,000 hectares, and the amount produced does not even cover domestic demand. The country relies on imports year after year, especially in the first half of the year, when domestic supplies are depleted – writes Agrárszektor.

The decrease can be traced to three main reasons:

Climate change: Potatoes require a cooler, more rainy environment, so frequent droughts and hot summers pose a serious challenge for producers. Irrigation has become essential, but its implementation requires significant investments.

Tightening EU regulations: The European Union is gradually withdrawing active ingredients from the market, without which protecting potatoes becomes increasingly difficult. As a result, producers are often unable to protect their crops from pests and diseases.
Changing consumer habits: In recent years, domestic potato consumption has stagnated, currently at around 60 kilograms per capita, which is below the EU27 average and the consumption level of the V4 countries.

The Hungarian potato crop is usually sufficient to meet domestic demand until February, after which mainly French and German potato imports dominate. The European market is not free from problems either: in 2024, a large amount of potatoes remained in the ground in Western Europe due to rains, but stocks are expected to last until the end of the season.

Possible solutions The following would be needed to boost domestic potato production:

Introduction of modern irrigation technologies to increase crop yields.
More efficient storage solutions to ensure stocks are available for a longer period of time.
Improved production equipment that would help produce a quality crop.
Better market integration with retail chains, as their role in sales has increased significantly.

Future prospects The Ministry of Agriculture will pay increased attention to strengthening potato production from 2024. This season, the area sown is expected to increase, which shows that producers are starting to recognize the potential of the sector. However, long-term success will require, in addition to state support, the cooperation of producers and compliance with quality standards.