The 2019/20 orange harvest for the São Paulo and Triângulo / Sudoeste Mineiro citrus belts ended at 386.79 million boxes weighing 40.8 kg, according to Fundecitrus’ Crop Estimation Survey (PES). The value shows a reduction of 0.54% in relation to the first estimate, of 388.89 million boxes, released in May 2019. This harvest was 35.3% higher than the previous one (2018/19), which shows the biennial orange production cycle, that is, larger harvests alternating with smaller harvests. “In the past 30 years, we have had only four harvests bigger than this one, but in this one that is ending the productivity per hectare has reached an unprecedented level”, says the PES coordinator, Vinícius Trombin. The observed productivity was 1,045 boxes per hectare, a decrease of six boxes per hectare in relation to the initial projection, but still a record. According to the general manager of Fundecitrus, Juliano Ayres, this milestone was possible thanks to a convergence of factors. “On the one hand, producers, who in the last decades have renewed orchards adopting higher technological levels and offered appropriate cultural treatments, and on the other, nature, which, through the climate, enabled the plants to reach the peak of productive potential in terms of of fruits per tree ”, he points out. The total production of oranges in this harvest included 76.27 million boxes of the Hamlin, Westin and Rubi varieties; 19.83 million boxes of the Valencia Americana, Seleta and Pineapple varieties; 118.29 million boxes of the Pera Rio variety; 125.81 million boxes of the Valencia and Valencia Folha Murcha varieties; and 46.59 million boxes of the Natal variety. About 27 million boxes were produced in the Triângulo Mineiro. Ideal climatic conditions were observed during the winter and spring of 2018, and allowed excellent flowering and favored the good flowering and fixation of young fruits, culminating in a high number of fruits per tree and homogenization of production, with about 94% of the fruits concentrated in first and second blooms.
Source: Universo Agro / DATAGRO