The Directorate of Agricultural Statistics (DIEA) predicts a 27% fall in citrus production, according to data obtained from the citrus survey, made in the second half of May between producers of the four main species: oranges, tangerines, limes and grapefruits.
Citrus production will drop 88,000 tons from the previous harvest. Limes will have the biggest drop (33%). A statement from the DIEA indicates that the production will be similar to that of 2009, when there was a decline in production after a severe drought, and subsequently hail, which affected the sector significantly.
The weather is also responsible for this year's production problems. Last year there was a significant frost that caused heavy losses of fruits and also damaged plants and trees, compromising this year's flowering and fruiting stages.
The report indicates that there was a decline in the volume of production but not in the fruit's quality, which "has a good size and can be exported".
At the time of the survey, total stocks of the four species amounted to 7.2 million plants, which implies a 2% decrease over the previous year. Oranges, with 3.4 million plants, contributes 47% of total inventory.
The producers reported their intention of uprooting 208,000 plants in 2013. That is an average of 3% of the total stock. In percentage terms, the grapefruit (5%) is the species that would be uprooted the most.
The final data of this harvest will be gathered in November, with the citrus Spring survey.
Source: Elobservador.com.uy