The president of the Blueberry Producers Association of Mesopotamia Argentina (Apama), Juan Scordia, said that they were already feeling the negative effects of the hard frosts that hit the region in August. According to a survey, they lost nearly 18% of the 7,350 tons that were estimated to be harvested in the area of Entre Rios and Corrientes, which means that, for now, they'll have a total harvest of 6,030 tons.
The harvest volume loss directly affects the amount of human resources to hire. "It means that there will be between 1,500 and 2,000 fewer jobs for the current harvest," said the producer, while noting: "Within these calculations, we've found producers who lost 30% of their crops and are in a dire situation to continue their crops".
The consequences are already being felt in the harvest that began in September, which has a direct impact on the amount of hired labour and changing varieties.
Scordia also lamented the loss because "people rethink and stop all the investments that had been planned for changing fruit varieties. Best case scenario, they'd be postponed," he said.
There were several days in August when temperatures in the region fell down to -7°. These temperatures damage crops despite the technology to protect and take care of crops overnight employed by farmers.
Source: Lavoz901.com.ar