Egyptian growers, exporters, and authorities are actively preparing for the upcoming citrus season. The acreage under cultivation has increased considerably, according to professional sources, amid growing demand.
Ibrahim Gadallah, business development manager of Janafresh, told FreshPlaza, "Egyptian citrus acreage consistently increases by around 5% per year. This year, however, I believe the acreage grew much more, as there is more interest in citrus than usual. Acreage was around 182000 ha, and these are unofficial figures, and I estimate we're hitting 200.000 ha this season."
As for expected volumes, Gadallah says, "We should be able to reach a production of 4.8 to 5 million tonnes, due to the increase in surface area and also to the improved farming operations currently being implemented. The small size problem we had last season has prompted growers to significantly improve their operations."
Gadallah continues, "In terms of export volumes, it's quite safe to say that Egypt will exceed the 2 million tonnes mark next season. This is due to several factors. Firstly, Egyptian citrus penetrated more markets last season. Secondly, South Africa's poor citrus performance this year has left the ground for Egypt, and the markets await the kick-off of the Egyptian campaign. And finally, the Egyptian food safety authorities are making huge efforts to support more exporters, putting them under strict supervision to be in full compliance with export standards."
It remains to be seen what citrus sizes will be like. Gadallah says, "The small sizes issue that occurred last season was a really strange phenomenon. Many people attribute it to climate, and it's obvious all around us that global warming is becoming a headache for growers. The big thermal variations during the blooming period affect the density and size of the fruits on the tree. Growers and experts are now trying hard to adapt to these new conditions, by adjusting their irrigating and fertilizing practices. Thus I expect to have a better crop this year with reasonable fruit sizes."
The exporter concludes: "At Jana Investment, we are likewise increasing our export volumes. We have invested in a new fruit processing facility, located on the desert road near Alexandria, with a total surface of 40,000 m². It features a giant processing line from the Spanish Sienz and an optical grader from the American Compac. It uses state-of-the-art infrared sorting technology and is expected to significantly increase Janafresh's volume and quality levels. Production will start in November. We also have an expansion plan as part of the project, with the introduction of juicing and freezing units."
For more information:
Ibrahim Gadallah
JanaFresh
Tel: +20 100 366 9486
Email: [email protected]
www.janafresh.com
