Although the Southern African citrus industry is celebrating another record breaking export season – the third year in a row – global and domestic challenges meant it did not translate into higher returns for local growers this year.
As the curtain comes down on the 2021 season for South Africa’s fastest growing citrus category, it is clear that growth in soft citrus is not over yet.
Over the past ten years, soft citrus production has exploded, up this year by nearly 450 per cent compared with 2011.
A record volume of 30.9m (15kg) cartons were packed, up around 7m cartons from last year’s volume of 23.6m cartons – hitting the top-end of pre-season predictions.
South African and European Union representatives are in intense discussions to alleviate the impact of a steep rise in reported Citrus Black Spot (CBS) and False Codling Moth (FCM) interceptions on citrus shipped to the EU. The South African industry is extremely concerned about the fallout from these interceptions, which comes at the end of a very difficult shipping season.
The European Union – among a host of other countries – is seeking to implement urgent policy measures to combat the effects of climate change. In its 2030 climate target plan, the EU aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% from 1990 levels. To that end, the EU has crafted the “Farm to Fork strategy”. Launched in 2020, it is a new approach that ensures that agriculture, fisheries, and the entire food system effectively contributes to achieving the target. The strategy is at the core of a broader initiative, the European Green Deal.
The South Africa citrus industry will likely break all export season records with an estimated 158.7 million cartons in 2021, the Citrus Growers Association of Southern Africa (CGA) reported recently. If the estimate is reached, it would represent a third consecutive season of record export volumes, with 130 million cartons exported in 2019, followed by 146 million cartons in 2020. CGA projections for 2021 indicate a 22% growth in export figures in just two years.
South Africa’s agricultural sector is arguably one of the most vibrant on the continent. This has largely been occasioned by technological adaptation, sound knowledge, regional and overseas market access, and logistical efficiency. Hence, the importance of trade and logistics to South Africa’s agricultural sector cannot be over-emphasised.
Seedless lemons have already found a sweet spot in various global markets at premium retailers where the seedlessness of the product addresses culinary frustrations experienced by chefs, home-cooks, health enthusiasts, mixologists and lovers of all things lemony. The seedless lemon has been described as the holy grail of the industry.
The Citrus Growers’ Association of South Africa welcomes the recent signing of a revised citrus protocol between South Africa and China by Minister of Agriculture, Land Affairs and Rural Development Thoko Didiza.
With local lemon production expected to grow by 175 000 metric tons by 2024, the finalisation of the revised protocol means China will now become a critical new market for this growth and will secure R325 million in new export revenue and secure 800 jobs in the industry.