EastFruit experts call attention to the outlook for weather conditions in Central Asian countries, which are currently the top onion exporters in the region. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. A predicted sharp decrease in temperatures could threaten the beginning of the onion harvest which starts picking in the southern regions of these countries around March. It is also threatening other crops that begin to harvest early like the carrots and cabbage. Furthermore, some of the stone fruits and nuts could be in danger.

As per Bakhtiyor Abduvokhidov, an international specialist in the business of produce the countries mentioned have had extremely warm weather, temperatures in the afternoon topped twenty degrees Celsius. In the aftermath, almonds are already beginning to blossom in several regions and buds have appeared on other stone fruit varieties.

But, in coming days, in the southern parts of Tajikistan temperatures are likely to decrease to 7-10 degrees lower than zero. It is more severe in Uzbekistan as well as Kazakhstan with temperatures of 12-13 degree Celsius below freezing temperatures is predicted for the night, and light frosts are expected to persist in the middle of the morning. According to Bakhtiyor early onions are already beginning to sprout that could cause the loss of some of the crop.

According to the agronomist Sergiy Alba, the impact of frost on onions is contingent on the stage of development. “If onions have over six leaflets at the time that frost begins to set in the crop, it could send an arrow” claims the specialist.

Marite Gailite, a specialist in the Latvijas darznieks vegetable growers association and blogger at EastFruit said that the effects of frost on onions is also dependent on the varieties of onion and hybrids as well depending on the overall condition of plantations.

The past experience suggests that a portion of the harvest in the first week could be ruined and the overall quality of the fresh crop could decline. Additionally, frosts could cause delays in harvest time.

For a summary, frosts can lessen tensions over the market for onions within Central Asia, where stocks remain large, and costs are modest. Loss of some of the earlier harvest that is also expected to be very high along with longer harvest times, could offer a couple of days more for the selling of huge stocks.

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