Critical situation for citrus growers in Entre Rios province

The situation of citrus growers in Villa del Rosario (Entre Ríos, Argentina) remains critical. With prices of 40 to 50 pesos per kilo, producers are unable to cover production costs. The saturation of the local market and the lack of export competitiveness aggravate the problem, resulting in the disposal of large quantities of fruit.

 

In the region, 400 producers harvest 150 million kilos of mandarins on 5,000 hectares. Although most of the production is destined for the domestic market, falling sales have forced the surplus to be redirected to an industry with limited capacity. High costs and export requirements also complicate the picture.

 

Citrus growers face low prices that do not cover the costs of harvesting, transport and packing. Increased production, following years of drought, has thrown supply and demand out of balance. Citrus farming, with its high labour demand and high transport costs, faces compromised economic viability, leading to extreme measures such as discarding crops.