At present, the planting area of onions in China is 1.05 million mu, which is relatively small compared to other crops At present, the per capita annual consumption of onions in China is relatively low, only about 3kg. Compared with the average annual consumption of onions by Japanese people of 10.2kg, there is significant room for development. If the Chinese onion industry can fully develop based on the above opportunities, the scale of the onion market will significantly increase.
1. The challenge of cost pressure
Among the major onion exporting countries worldwide, the Netherlands has the lowest comprehensive cost of onions, which is an important reason why the Netherlands has become the country with the largest global onion export volume. The main reason why China has been able to maintain its low-cost advantage has been due to the demographic dividend. But with the aging population and labor force transfer, China's advantage in low labor costs is undergoing a reversal.
2. Challenges of planting patterns
Large scale mechanized production of onions in foreign countries generally adopts the method of live broadcasting in the open air, while over 90% of onion production areas in China use plastic film covering and transplanting.
Covering with plastic film can prevent grass and moisture, improve yield and consistency. However, during mechanized planting, existing transplanting machines may not match the onion planting mode in China, resulting in low transplanting efficiency and difficulty in large-scale promotion. Additionally, existing harvesting machines are not yet integrated in handling plastic film, cutting seedlings, and boxing. In the future, mechanized open field live broadcasting and suitable mechanized mulching and transplanting planting models for onions will become the focus of exploration.
3. Challenges in product quality
4. Challenges in Planting Plans
5. Countermeasures and suggestions
5.1. Introducing mechanization to achieve intensive production
At present, onion cultivation in China adopts the method of transplanting and plastic film covering, with a low degree of mechanization. Relevant mechanical research and equipment configuration should be carried out according to the actual situation. At the same time, intensive and large-scale production should be promoted to more effectively utilize resources and reduce costs.
In addition, the country should also provide suitable land policies and financial environment, that is, whether farmers can transfer to large-scale suitable land, whether they can obtain financing and loan channels, etc.
5.2. Collaborative development and win-win cooperation
Faced with the volatile onion market, growers and all practitioners in the industry chain should strengthen cooperation, share information, establish non-profit organizations such as industry associations in a timely manner, coordinate and guide the majority of onion industry practitioners, and ensure the stable, healthy, and sustainable development of the onion industry.
5.3. Fully tap into the domestic onion consumption market
5.4. Increase investment in onion breeding research and development
Increase investment in research and development projects for new onion varieties, especially encouraging relevant seed companies to initiate long-term breeding projects, and encouraging relevant enterprises to acquire or integrate foreign seed companies with onion breeding capabilities;
Strengthen research on the trend of onion consumption market, further refine breeding objectives, cultivate or introduce corresponding excellent varieties, such as varieties with strong disease and insect resistance, water-saving varieties, sweet onion varieties, etc.
