The production and sale of Algarvian citrus did not suffer with the pandemic and the sale increased in 2020 reaching values even out of the ordinary, but the 2021 campaign already divides two of the largest operators in the region.
“In the first year (2020) there was a very large demand, which dragged the prices up and all operators in the industry benefited, from the producer to the commercializer. In this campaign, demand is not as strong, but production was higher and we can not complain”, said the president of the Agricultural Cooperative of Citrus producers in Algarve (Cacial) to Lusa News Agency.
For José Oliveira, the fact that the sector was not affected by the pandemic as other sectors, would make it “almost a crime to complain about anything” in relation to the activity in these two years of the pandemic. The professionalization of producers and operators is the main reason pointed out by the responsible for an improvement in the “health” of the sector, which translates into increased profitability for all.
“We’ve practically had an oasis in the economic difficulties that almost every sector of the economy has gone through. We had two really relaxed years in terms of marketing”, he reinforced.
According to the leader, the notion that vitamin C “helps in the fight against covid” made the prices follow the demand” in the first year of the pandemic.
As for outbreaks in agricultural workers, he assured “no knowledge of serious problems” and said that producers are working with health authorities to “implement vaccination plans that cover foreign workers who are in the region”.
The classification as a protected geographical indication (PGI), the investment in the brand and export of the Algarve orange is “recognition of its quality” which translates into “a lot of demand” externally, and the fact that “20% of production is exported” as an alternative to the internal market.
Frusoal, the organization of citrus producers in Portugal, also confirmed to Lusa the “positive phase” of the good 2020 campaign, with a “price increase”, but warned that 2021 “is not working the same way”.
According to the managing partner of Frusoal, Pedro Madeira, this year consumption and prices are “substantially lower” than in 2020, but his concern focuses on the “decrease in fruit consumption in general terms”, which may represent “some fear of tomorrow” by consumers.
The low production of the varieties that will begin to market within weeks gives some hope that operators can make “tranquility throughout the campaign”, but the concern “with what may lie ahead” remains, he said.
Both José Oliveira and Pedro Madeira pointed out the need to “increase the production area”, since the “demand is greater than supply” with the need for Portugal to import citrus.
In the long term, the concern is focused on the need to find solutions to the “water shortage” essential for fruit production, but also for the main economic activity of the region, tourism.
Both operators consider “scarce” the funds indicated in the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) to solve the water deficit in the Algarve, applauding the construction of the pipeline that will bring water from the Guadiana River, but in unison defend the need to build another dam to ensure the water supply and the “resilience of the region”.