Belgium: Belgian potato area increases again
A national survey by the practice centres shows that both in Flanders and in Wallonia the area of consumption potatoes increases by 6% or almost 6,000 ha to a total of over 106,000 ha.
Viaverda and Inagro annually survey 130 Flemish potato growers about their potato area. In Wallonia, the same survey is carried out among 87 growers by Fiwap and Carah. Together they reach approximately 14% of the Belgian area.
Within the survey, the area of early varieties seems to increase by 4%. Amora remains by far the most important early variety (51%). The semi-early Sinora also continues to maintain a large lead over the rest with a share of 38% in the area of (semi)early varieties. French Fries
Among the mid-late French Fries varieties, Bellini and Felsina are mainly planted. The Bellini area has increased for the third year in a row in the survey. The Felsina area, on the other hand, seems to be declining.
According to the survey, the area of late potatoes for the French fry industry would increase by 5.5%. It is striking that within the survey, a large increase can be seen east of Brussels (+14%) and a slight decrease in West and East Flanders (-2%).
The Fontane area seems to increase by 11% this year. This variety remains by far the largest among the late potatoes and would again take a share of 69% this year. In the survey, the average Fontane area is approximately 30 ha per grower.
Chips and fresh market
The few growers from the survey who include chip varieties in their cultivation plan intend to plant a lot more this year. In the chip varieties we see that SH C 909 is increasing strongly in area.
Since the fresh market is a limited segment in Flanders, no reliable estimate can be made of a possible decrease or increase in this area.
According to the first figures, the total area would also increase by 6% in Wallonia. Fontane would also increase further there (+9%) and take up 57% of the area of late chip varieties.
Fuente: Landbouwleven
