Stable base, new directions characterize domestic onion production

(Photo: Pixabay)

The decline in the 2025 season can be primarily attributed to the combined effect of low market prices in 2024 and difficult sales opportunities. However, all this did not shake the commitment of domestic producers – in fact, market pressure encouraged players to innovate. The goal is clear: to preserve a higher-quality, uniform product base and to create more efficient post-treatment and storage.

Autumn onion – balanced season, with adequate yields

The sowing area of ​​autumn onion was 414 hectares this year, which is roughly the same as in previous years. The cool, slowly warming weather of the spring resulted in a slightly uneven size distribution in the case of early varieties, but in the case of varieties with a longer growing season, a more uniform, easily manageable commodity base has developed. Yields averaged 50 tons per hectare, and market prices were at a satisfactory level – producers generally assessed the season positively. The autumn onion harvest was practically completed by the end of July.

Spring onion – decreasing area, favorable weather

The spring onion cultivation area this year was 1,107 hectares, which is a noticeable decline compared to last year’s more than 1,300 hectares. The decrease is due to the same market factors as in the case of autumn sowings, but at the same time, the weather conditions of the season were particularly favorable. The cool spring was followed by a balanced, moderate summer – the lowest in the last twenty years, with only 11 days of heat, compared to the 30–50-day heat wave of previous years. This climate situation had a beneficial effect on plant development: night cooling resulted in higher humidity, which improved the quality and color of the onion skin. No serious plant protection problems occurred, thanks to the balanced weather. The average yield is 55 tons per hectare, but with irrigation – drip tape or micro-irrigation technology – farmers could achieve results of 90–100 tons.

Market situation and prospects – cautious optimism

Sales on the domestic and European markets remained moderate but stable this year. Prices were at an acceptable level for producers, although export opportunities were more limited than before. Despite all this, onion remains an attractive alternative in arable crop production: more and more grain-producing farms are interested in this crop, as the profitability with the development of commodity production and processing is more promising than with many other crops. One of the keywords for the coming period will certainly be efficiency. Modern storage capacities, precision irrigation and developments towards uniform quality products serve not only competitiveness, but also sustainability. Hungarian onion production is therefore on solid footing despite the challenges – and it seems that producers are ready for renewal.

FruitVeb