Hungary Increases Potato Cultivation Areas in 2025

In 2025, Hungarian agricultural producers plan to increase potato cultivation areas by 300–400 hectares compared to last year. The expected area for cultivation will be 5700–5800 hectares, reported Éva Kulich, spokesperson for the National Association of Potato Growers of Hungary. The increase in area is noted for both early and late varieties.

This is reported by AgroReview

However, due to a rainy March, the planting of late varieties is delayed by 2–3 weeks. According to the expert, the previous season was successful in terms of yield, which was 35–38 tons per hectare, but weather conditions negatively affected the quality of the produce, and a significant portion of the harvest did not meet table potato standards.

Challenges and Prospects for the Hungarian Potato Industry

Among the main challenges facing the industry are the decline in potato consumption, which stands at about 60 kilograms per person per year, and a heavy reliance on imported seeds: 95% of planting material comes from France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Domestic varieties are primarily grown for small farms.

Despite these challenges, the association does not anticipate supply disruptions. Special attention is being paid to the growing demand for processing potatoes, particularly for the production of chips, frozen products, and mashed potatoes. European trends in the development of the processing industry could provide a boost for the Hungarian sector.

“Last season we observed successful yields, but the quality of the harvest raised concerns,” noted Éva Kulich.