Argedava Novaci Agricultural Cooperative, spanning across 800 hectares of land in various counties surrounding Bucharest, is set to inject €8 million into a state-of-the-art onion storage and conditioning facility. This strategic investment aims to capitalize on the price differentials resulting from fluctuations between periods of overproduction and the spring, during which Romania heavily relies on onion imports, primarily from the Netherlands.
"Currently, Romania produces only between 30 and 40% of its onion consumption. The primary challenge lies in the lack of proper storage and conditioning infrastructure, as onions require specialized ventilation cells for preservation. However, the cost of these cells is substantial," explained Ionuţ Vochin, president of the cooperative and executive director of Oxigen Agro Product Company, a division of Argedava Novaci.
Recent data reveals that Romania imports over 80,000 tonnes of onions annually from the Netherlands and other European Union countries. Despite an annual production exceeding 300,000 tonnes, the country struggles to meet its consumption demands due to the absence of warehouse facilities for long-term preservation. Consequently, a significant portion of the produce remains unsold, failing to reach the market.
source: romania-insider