This year, Misiones was only able to harvest 39,000 tons of citrus fruits (60% less than in the previous season).
According to the members of the Provincial Committee of Citrus (CoProCit), which met last Thursday to make a balance of the 2014/2015 campaign, this decline was mainly due to the lack of good weather conducive to the citrus crop. Additionally, the products from Misiones faced difficulties to be competitive in the international market because of the exchange rate, export tariffs, and the costs for the certification of quality protocols.
The secretary of CoProCit, Yaco Mazal, stated that, "this is a critical time, not only for the citrus industry but also for other sectors of the regional economies". However, he said, the forecasts for the 2015/2016 campaign are very good in terms of production, because "the weather conditions are favorable. There is a good flowering and the fruit is setting very well; something that didn't happen this year." In this context, he recommended producers conduct "the necessary cures for the coming months, as forecasts are it will be a rainy season."
During the meeting, the Committee agreed to organize a free training for growers of citrus in Monte Carlo in October. The meeting was attended by: Yaco Mazal, Pedro Mendez of SENASA, Jorge Wolosajn of the Association Citrus growers of Misiones, Carlos Satur of the Tobacco Cooperative of Misiones (CTM), Natalia Gil of INASE, Gabriela Anders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Production, John Agostini of the INTA Montecarlo, and Mario Alsina of the College of Agricultural Engineering of Misiones.
Source: masproduccion.com