Farmers forced to sell onions due to deterioration in quality

In 2025, Ukrainian farmers are facing serious difficulties due to a significant deterioration in the quality of the onion harvest. Excess moisture and adverse weather conditions have affected the condition of the vegetables, which has significantly complicated the storage and sale of this product. As a result, many farmers are forced to sell onions at reduced prices or even send them for disposal.

This year, weather conditions in Ukraine have not been conducive to a good onion harvest. During the summer and autumn, significant precipitation, high temperatures and an unstable climate have led to the fact that root crops have gained excessive moisture. This has negatively affected the ability of onions to be stored. Already at the harvest stage, it has become obvious that many tubers will not meet quality standards, in particular due to diseases and rot.

Agricultural enterprises are trying to minimize losses, but even with this approach it is difficult to avoid serious economic consequences. Instead of selling onions at market value, farmers are forced to accept lower price offers or even dispose of their produce. This is especially important for those who grow onions on large areas, where in case of failure, storage times become critical.

Onion prices have fallen sharply compared to previous years. While last year onions were sold at 12-14 hryvnias per kilogram, now the price varies between 7-8 hryvnias, and in some markets even less. This drop in value was the result of both a surplus of products and poor quality of the product. Many farmers are forced to reduce the area under onions for the next year due to these problems, which creates additional uncertainty for the market.

Experts note that such phenomena are not unique to Ukraine. Many farmers in Europe and other countries where onions are grown are also facing problems caused by climate change. Therefore, producers are trying to adapt their agricultural methods, applying new technologies for storing and processing vegetables. In Ukraine, this process is proceeding more slowly, but there are still some developments.

According to analysts, Ukrainian farmers should invest in improving onion growing and storage technologies to ensure stable demand for this product. One possible solution is to introduce new onion varieties that are better adapted to changing climatic conditions and withstand excessive moisture. However, this requires time and financial investments, which are not always enough for small farms.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian consumers have already felt the consequences of this situation on their own wallets. As analysts note, a decrease in onion prices could be good news for buyers, but due to the low quality of the product, consumers have limited choice. As a result, farmers continue to look for ways out of this situation, hoping for improved weather conditions and market stabilization in the coming years.