The Egyptian pomegranate season has just begun and will run until November. Abdelkader Al Alhaboney, an Egyptian producer and exporter of various fresh produce, expects a "normal season despite an unusual context".
The grower says: "We insist on producing pomegranates despite the growing difficulties. It's one of the crops that Egyptian growers take to heart. But climate change is catching up with us. While the usual yield per feddan is around 12 tonnes, this season it has fallen to 8 tonnes. This is due to temperature swings".
Alhabony continues, "Great efforts have been made to maintain a decent volume, from selecting more resistant seeds to more meticulous farming operations with the government's help. The main effective solution for consistent volumes remains to expand the acreage.
In terms of varieties, there's no change this season, with Wonderful and 116 dominating production, alongside local varieties such as Baladi, Asyouti, and Sukkari, according to the grower.
Alhabony announces that his company is maintaining the same prices as last season. He explains, "Pomegranates are not a staple product, and we have to make a commercial effort to offer a price that is acceptable to the market. There is also a lot of competition, between exporters and also between products, with the availability of many other fruits such as mangoes, grapes, pears, all available this summer".
For more information:
Abdelkader Alhabony
Alhabony Group
Tel : +201090999229
Email: [email protected]
www.alhabounygroup.com