According to ASAJA-Almeria, this year's production costs and how they affect the producer's profitability will be a key factor to assess this year's citrus campaign. "Last year, producing one kilo of mandarins cost 35 cents; now, it costs no less than 50 cents. So what good is it to achieve acceptable prices if the production costs for most crops have doubled?" stated provincial president Adoracion Blanque.
"How can citrus farmers be profitable when production costs already stand at 50 cents per kilo and the first kilos of mandarins were being paid at origin at 55 cents and the lemon at 70 cents?" ASAJA stated.
The citrus sector was one of the most affected sectors during the past agricultural year and it's essential to change its situation. "To do this, it's necessary to generate movement in the market, a strong demand for citrus products, decrease the competition from third countries, and increase the prices paid to farmers because we continue in a scenario where the cost of electricity, fertilizers, diesel, insecticides, or water could put upend their profitability," Blanque stated.
In addition to the increase in costs, it's worth noting that citrus production could be destabilized by the effects that high temperatures and weather have on the crops.
"The previous campaign was the worst campaign of the last 5 years, so producers were hoping to have more stability and profitability in this campaign; however, the inflation that continues to hit the sector disproportionately would tarnish the current prices they've obtained. The last campaign was catastrophic, especially for oranges, which experienced a 42% drop in prices and oscillated at around 15 cents on average; a derisory amount.
"However, it should be noted that the orange reached an average value of 35 cents at the beginning of this campaign; a notable increase when one takes into account that in the previous campaign prices fell to less than 15 cents," she stated.
Producers now fear consumption will decrease, as people are purchasing fewer and fewer products, while paying more attention to prices than quality. "We need campaigns to promote the consumption of the local and national products. Since we are at the beginning of the citrus season, we should also encourage consumers to look at the origin of the products and to demand our oranges, lemons, and mandarins," the president of ASAJA-Almeria stated.
For more information:
ASAJA-AlmerÃa
https://asajaalmeria.org