Diminution of Oranges Production in Valencia, Alicante and Castellon Provinces

Valencia concentrates the 50.7 percent of the countries citrus production. The diminution of harvest anticipation must bring the strong reduction of the production of the province of Valencia, province where more incidence was the cold of year principles, with a forecast of inferior harvest to the previous campaign, of the order of 34%. Altogether, a harvest of 1.504.756 tons in the province of Valencia, main producing zone of citruses of the Community is anticipated, which supposes the concentration of 50.7% of the production in campaign 2005/2006. In the province of Alicante, in agreement with the estimations, a harvest of 743,286 tons will be reached, which supposes a decrease of 7.49% with respect to the previous campaign. By groups, the diminution of the mandarin production is anticipated, stays practically the production of oranges, group in which the increase in a 10.6% of the Valencia variety is experienced Barks, that contrasts with the diminution of harvest that presented/displayed the previous year. As far as the lemons, they experience a reduction, specially in the variety of Fine Lemon, and grows the production of pomelos. Finally, in the province of Castellón, a citrícola harvest of 717,152 tons is anticipated, that is to say, an inferior 15.52% to the one of the preceding campaign, with a diminution of 14.56% in mandarins and 21.86% in oranges, although a slight increase in the NAVELATE-Lanelate variety is anticipated.