Paraguay: 20,000 tons of onions are produced in the country, with good economic results.

Agricultural engineer Diego Garcete, coordinator of Production Management at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), told La Nación/Nación Media that in 2024 the cultivation area was around 950 hectares, with an approximate production of 20,000 tons, which was enough to satisfy the market for about 60 to 65 days, but generally national production only covers about 50 days of domestic consumption.

This crop is quite resistant to cold and frost, adapting to any soil type. However, yields can be affected by a lack of water and degraded soil, but the country is providing appropriate training to improve production.

CYCLICAL PRODUCTION

Garcete explained that there are three production cycles: the early variety, which begins in March from the first days until April 15; the mid-season from April 15 to May 20, approximately; and the late variety, from May 20 to June 31, which are the optimal times for planting. Harvesting of the first variety begins in September and October, followed by the following varieties in October and November, and the late varieties between November and December.

As an institution, the MAG distributed 1,130 kilograms of onion seeds of these varieties this year, which would cover 665 hectares, representing 70% of national production by 2025. The remaining 30% corresponds to the private sector, and together it is expected to reach the production cap of 1,000 and 1,100 hectares.

PROFITABILITY

The profitability of onion production is at 53%. "The cost per hectare would be around 40 million euros, and harvesting 18 tons per hectare would yield an average income of 64 million euros," the Production Management Coordinator emphasized. This means the return reaches 24 million euros per hectare.

He added that this sector has the potential for continued growth and aims to work collaboratively with grassroots committees or producer associations, looking into ways to incorporate the use of onion sorters into their organizations and install drying sheds so that the onions can be stored and sold whenever producers desire.

Finally, he said that the MAG seeks to extend the production cycle and offer locally produced crops for longer. To ensure that these crops don’t all come out at the same time, they are already zoning production. This is based on the fact that departments such as Paraguarí, Itapúa, and part of Caaguazú receive onion seeds from the early-season line.

Meanwhile, the other departments receive mid-season and late-season seeds, in order to achieve staggered production and, above all, extend the national supply season to 80 or even 90 days.

FOURTEEN DEPARTMENTS

Currently, the MAG is working with 3,800 producers from 14 departments. The most productive areas are Paraguarí, Itapúa and Caaguazú, which have the most producers. He is followed by farmers from Guairá, Caazapá, Misiones, Lower Chaco, Upper Parana, Central, San Pedro, Canindeyú, Amambay and Ñeembucu.

"On average, an onion producer with a quarter or even half a hectare of production provides labor for four families per day. This generates a significant microeconomy within each district and department," Garcete argued.

Marketing takes place primarily on family farms, through direct buyers or intermediaries. Regarding yields, the national average is between 12 and 15 tons per hectare, but the goal is to reach 18 to 20 tons per hectare through training and daily technical visits by the Ministry of Agriculture to the production areas.