Paraguay's agricultural and mining sectors are charting divergent paths this season, with onion growers navigating weather setbacks and the basalt industry consolidating its economic clout.
Onion production is in its early cultivation stage, with most farmers still holding seedlings in nurseries due to recent rains and humidity, according to agronomist Diego Garcete. The delays have slowed transplanting, but Garcete noted that the crop remains viable across the country's eastern departments—Caaguazú, Paraguarí, and Itapúa—as well as in the western department of Boquerón, where indigenous communities are involved.
Garcete, who coordinates extension efforts at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), emphasized that soil management is key. Degraded soils and poor practices reduce yields, so training focuses on crop rotation, soil analysis, nutrition, and pest control. Some producers have adopted mechanized direct seeding to increase plant density per hectare.
Yield varies widely: small traditional farmers harvest 10,000–12,000 kg per hectare, intermediate growers reach 18,000–25,000 kg, and large producers using new technologies exceed 40,000 kg. The national average depends on weather, ranging from 18,000 kg/ha in good years to 12,000 kg/ha in poor ones like the last campaign.
Production costs run about 40 million guaraníes per hectare, but returns can hit 53% in a favorable season, Garcete said. The crop generates significant local employment, and MAG aims to help farmers see themselves as investors. To avoid market saturation, the ministry is zoning production to extend the availability of domestic onions and reduce import dependence, as daily demand stands at roughly 200,000 kg.
This year, 4,249 producers received training and seeds through MAG's three-stage support system: selection, training, and input provision.
Meanwhile, the basalt industry is expanding, driven by demand from public and private construction. Official data from the Directorate of Mineral Resources under the Vice Ministry of Mines and Energy shows Alto Paraná leads with 20 quarries and annual revenues estimated at USD 44.96 million—44.38% of the national total. Presidente Hayes follows with USD 17.18 million (16.96%), and Itapúa also ranks among top contributors.
The estimates are based on declared monthly extraction capacities and projected annual sales. The sector's growth supports transport, logistics, and employment in mining regions, with potential for further expansion in areas with mineral resources.