Normally, during the summer months, the price of oranges tend to increase in grocery stores and supermarkets because, in this season, production is low in Argentina.
However, this year prices could remain high longer than usual due to the severe drought that is affecting the entire country, especially the region of Entre Rios, one of the main citrus producers in the country and one of the provinces most affected by the drought.
The president of the Rural Society of Chajari, Hector Reniero, gave the mayor of that city a report of the Argentine Rural Confederations (CRA) describing the problems that the region is experiencing due to the drought.
Citriculture
According to the report, this year, the rainfall between January and February amounted to 54 millimeters, a much lower number than the usual 242 millimeters. The drought has had a strong impact in the citrus industry because "since it didn't rain in the most important months for the fruit's development, the fruit will remain small and unfit for marketing (even for the industry)."
"In addition, a large number of fruits have been burned by the sun and the earliest orange varieties (Okitsu and navel), won't be ready in time to be marketed," the document states.
According to Reniero, this is already generating negative consequences, "the harvesters, packing sheds, service stations, and other sectors have no work."
"If the shortage of rainfall persists, the later varieties and even the plants could be compromised. According to estimates 70 to 75 percent of the crops were affected by the drought."
Source: Agrovoz