The extreme drought further deepened the crisis in the fruit sector

In contrast to previous years, this year it was not the late frosts, but the century-long drought that caused outstanding damage to the domestic fruit sector. As a result of the water shortage in the deeper layers of the soil, which has been getting worse since last summer, most of the fruits did not reach the ideal size and content value. According to the FruitVeb Hungarian Vegetable and Fruit Association and Product Council, 42 percent less apples will be harvested this year than last year’s 520,000 tons, only about 300,000 tons, the drop will be particularly significant in terms of apple juice. As in previous years, the volume of this year’s cherry crop is only around 60,000 tons, but while in previous years the spring frosts caused significant crop losses, now the drought decimated the crop. The situation is further aggravated by the fact that only a part of the produced quantity reached the 18 millimeter size required by the processing industry. In the case of fruit varieties with a smaller production area, the picture is more mixed. Due to the lack of late spring frosts, the expected value of the plum harvest may be around 55,000 tons, which is slightly below the average, but peaches and apricots have been harvested this year in much larger quantities than in previous years: the latter’s yield of around 25,000 tons is not a record, but compared to previous years can definitely be classified as an outlier. It produced 17,000 tons of pears, which is a slight increase compared to last year’s 16,000 tons, and the total yield of around 10,000 tons of cherries can also be classified as a good result. Watermelons produced in largely irrigated areas also produced an adequate amount, 120,000 tons, this year, which covered domestic and export needs. But the high heat had adverse effects here as well: the yield averages fell, and the faster ripening yield resulted in a shorter, more intense season than usual. “Unfortunately, the drought not only has a negative effect on this year’s harvest, it also strongly influences the amount of next year’s harvest,” pointed out Ferenc Apáti, the president of FruitVeb. – Weakened fruit trees with only limited access to nutrients do not have the energy to grow a sufficient number of flower buds, which is a condition for next year’s crop.

Declining production areas, rising prices

This year’s drought further worsened the long-term outlook for fruit production. In addition to climate change, which increases the frequency of spring frosts in addition to drought, the sector is also suffering from a severe labor shortage and the continuous aging of plantations. As a result of all of this, forecasts were already made last year, according to which a decrease of up to 20 percent in the size of the fruit-growing areas at the national level is predicted in the next 4-5 years. This process may be further accelerated by the economic difficulties caused by this year’s drought. In the current economic environment, local initiatives such as “take it yourself” actions and campaigns encouraging the purchase of local and domestic products can be a positive shift in demand. Experts emphasize the importance of technological development in addition to conscious consumer behavior for survival. – In the long term, only those intensive plantations have a future, in which protection against frost and ice damage, as well as irrigation, is at least partially solved – Ferenc Apáti added. – Risks can only be avoided in the future with a significant capital investment and the possession of appropriate expertise.