BEIJING: China had about 109,866 hectares of tomato fields in 2016, which has increased 2.7% year-on-year. There are two reasons for the continuous growth of the tomato acreage. First, farmers’ enthusiasm for planting was improved. Since July 2015, the tomato market price has risen sharply, every income per hectare of peasant household reaches more than 149,989 Yuan ($21,820), and this high yield promotes the increase of planting area. Secondly, the government’s subsidy policy for greenhouses has encouraged the growth of greenhouse planting area in the north of China.
In 2016, affected by low temperature, a cold snap, haze and other factors, the tomato yield declined slightly, about 5.17 tons per hectare, down 1.1% on the year, but total output has increased by 1.6%, reaching 56.8 million tons. In 2017, tomato planting area is estimated to be about 111,333 hectares, down by 1.3% year-on-year. Barring any major natural disasters this year, the unit yield is expected to return to 5.25 tons per hectaree, and total output should reach 56.95 million tons, an increase of 0.2% year-on-year. Planted area is expected to be reduced slightly, mainly because of the unsalable phenomenon appears in some regions tomato in 2016, which has directly influenced the enthusiasm of peasant household tomato plantations.
