Argentina: In Santiago del Estero, what they pay an onion producer per kilo is not even enough to buy a candy

The effects of the explosive combo "overproduction-low prices-low demand" continue to be felt in the onion producing sector throughout the country, which is going through an unusual panorama of very low prices. Perhaps the saddest thing is that, in some areas of the country, a kilo of this vegetable is worth less in the wholesale markets than it costs to buy four candies. And to the producer who harvested that onion, what they pay is equal to the value of just one piece of candy. In Argentina, around 19,000 hectares are planted with onions, the main producing provinces being Buenos Aires, with 9,000 hectares, and Río Negro, with 4,000. Behind them are Santiago del Estero, Salta and Córdoba. Most of what is produced is destined for the domestic market, and the rest is exported to countries such as Brazil, the main importer, Paraguay and Uruguay. But this year several factors conspired to deal a major blow to the business. In the first place, Brazil imported 50% less than in 2020: ...