Guava outlook good, but load-shedding worrying

Guava production in the Western Cape is expected to decline slightly from 25 955t in 2022 to 25 300t in 2023, according to the latest estimate of the South African Guava Producers’ Association (GPA).

Jacques Jordaan, CEO of the GPA, expects favourable climatic conditions so far to lead to good-sized fruit, which should result in the volume of guavas directed to the fresh market increasing from last year’s 4 800t to 5 300t if weather conditions remained favourable.

“The guava industry produced an above-average harvest last season, but fruit sizes were generally smaller than usual because of dry summer conditions. This resulted in fruit being diverted from fresh markets to purée processing, a trend further supported by favourable prices,” he said.

The volume of guavas sent to the canning market decreased from 1 254t in 2021 to 805t in 2022, but was expected to increase to 1 500t this season, while fruit sent to the purée market rose from 18 624t in 2021 to 20 351t in 2022, and was expected to reach 18 500t this season.

So far, production was expected to be average to above average in Porterville and average, but slightly late, in the Wellington region.

Wind and hail damage was experienced during flowering in the Paarl region, but the early rains in February might make up for this, according to Jordaan.

The harvest in Kraaifontein was looking promising, whereas Mossel Bay’s harvest was expected to be smaller following an abnormally big harvest last season.

Willem Grobbelaar, chairperson of the GPA, said prices for this season had not yet been finalised, but should be about the same, if not better, for purée than last season.

Prices in the fresh market, however, would probably not be much higher than last season, as consumer spending was under pressure due to poor economic conditions.

He identified the cost-price squeeze as the biggest current challenge for the industry.

“Farmers have to manage their costs well, especially when it comes to inputs and labour, otherwise the costs will run away from them. But this is something we see in all the agriculture industries at the moment.”

He said load-shedding was taking a huge toll on processors, significantly driving up production costs. –

POWER CUTS ARE DRIVING UP PRODUCTION COSTS