Orange production in the interior of SP records a drop due to the weather

According to data from the Citrus Defense Fund (Fundecitrus), the citrus growing regions of the State of São Paulo recorded, in the period between January and May, one of the biggest drops in orange production. In total, production decreased by around 6% compared to the previous year and losses reached 200%. According to Vinícius Trombin, the entity's research coordinator, the reason for the drop is the climate. “After October 2015, with the high temperature, the trees did not have a prolonged period for their development that could trigger new flowering”, he explains.

According to Trombim, experts have spent the last few months monitoring dozens of plantations. “In the Matão and Itapetininga regions, there was an increase in the harvest by 8,8% and 17%, respectively, which increased the number of fruits per tree. In the other 10 citrus growing regions there was a decrease in the number of fruits per tree”, he analyzes.

Even with the increase, the city of Matão (SP) could close the harvest with a drop of 18%, when compared to 2015. “The 2016 orange harvest from Brazil's main citrus park is expected to be 245 million boxes, which could increase this number if it rains again”, concludes the Fundecitrus coordinator.

According to meteorologist Alexandre Nascimento, between February, March and April the rain was below the average for the month. In May, from the 01st to the 18th, a total of 32 millimeters had already accumulated in Matão, with the average being 62 millimeters. In other words, it has practically rained half of what was expected for the entire month. Until Monday (23) there is a forecast of rain for the Matão and Itapetininga region due to the passage of a new cold front through São Paulo, which could disrupt work in the field at harvest time. It gets cold again and producers should pay attention to the drop in temperature until the end of the month.

For June, the tendency is for little rain in the region. “To give you an idea, the average rainfall for the month is just 32 millimeters. Producers should expect rain and temperatures close to average. In other words, we will have dry and cold weather, most of the time”, concludes Nascimento.