About two weeks ago, EastFruit wrote about unprecedented in intensity and duration rains in the first half of March 2022 in Uzbekistan, which were replaced by an anomalous cooling in the second half of March. Moreover, two waves of frosts were observed during this period, that covered mainly the central strip of the country.

One of the consequences of the March weather anomalies for melon growers was the later than usual planting of seedlings of early watermelon varieties in the southern regions of the country. The incessant rains and the subsequent cold snap this month delayed the start of works by about 10-12 days, farmers of the Kashkadarya region of Uzbekistan noted in an interview with Khalq suzi (People’s Word). Thus, the beginning of the watermelon harvesting season in 2022 is expected in the first ten days of June – 12-15 days later than last year.

Growers of the Kukdala district of the Kashkadarya region are among the first in Uzbekistan to bring wholesale volumes of watermelon to the market. To do this, back in January, they begin to grow seedlings of early varieties of watermelon in pots, and at the end of the first or beginning of the second decade of March, they plant these seedlings on the ground under film tunnels.

According to the melon grower Gayum Tolipov from the village of Utamayli (Kukdala district), this year watermelon seedlings were planted in the fields under the film on March 22 – 10 days later than last year. Accordingly, the harvesting is also postponed for 12-15 days. Apparently, the harvest season this year will start in the first decade of June, while last year watermelons were harvested in the third decade of May there. This season, he planted 6 000 seedlings of early-ripening watermelon per 1 ha and plans to get a crop of about 30 tonnes.

According to Khalq suzi, 1 004 households live in the village of Utamayli, and the vast majority of them are engaged in the cultivation of watermelon, mainly early varieties. The total area of ​​watermelon plantations in this village is about 2 000 ha.

Сообщение The season of early watermelons in Uzbekistan will start later due to weather anomalies появились сначала на EastFruit.

The Uzbek EastFruit team reports that open field potatoes were planted in the southernmost region of Uzbekistan, the Surkhandarya region, in the first ten days of February 2022. According to farmers’ estimates, the area planted with early potatoes in January and early February 2022 has been increased by a third. Early potatoes planting in Uzbekistan is now gradually moving to the central part of the country.

The first early open field potatoes in Uzbekistan will be harvested in the second half of March, but mass harvesting will start in April. Due to fears of a shortage of potatoes in the market, Uzbekistan has become one of their world’s largest importers in 2021. Obviously, the situation with the supply of potatoes has normalized now and there is not much time left before the start of harvesting.

Moreover, potato prices in Uzbekistan, unlike other countries in the region, even slightly decreased in early February 2022. The average wholesale price for potatoes in Uzbekistan decreased by 20% over the previous two weeks.

The main reason is the large stocks of imported potatoes in storage, which are losing marketable condition, as spring is approaching. The sale of last year’s potatoes is spurred on by the fact that farmers in the southern regions have already started harvesting early potatoes from film greenhouses. These potatoes were planted in November-December 2021.

Read also: Uzbekistan overtook Moldova and is catching up with Turkey in grape exports to Russia

According to selective estimates of producers, the planting area of ultra-early potatoes remained unchanged. Judging by the current state of the crop, the growth process is normal, since no weather anomalies were observed in December-February. Accordingly, ultra-early potato yields are expected to be similar to previous years, if there are no weather surprises during pre-ripening and harvesting. However, these potatoes do not play a significant role for the mass market, as they are sold at a higher price and their volume is limited.

It should be noted that wholesale prices for potatoes in February approached the prices of last year for the first time this season. Although prices in February 2021 were significantly higher than in the same month in 2020.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, the total potato planting area in 2021 amounted to 78 200 ha. However, the increase in potato planting areas in the south of the country suggests that the rest of Uzbekistan will also increase the area of potato plantations in 2022, which will eventually mean planting areas in the whole country increase.

It is possible that we will see a further decrease in the relatively high wholesale prices for potatoes in Uzbekistan in April.

Сообщение Early potatoe area in the South of Uzbekistan increased by a third появились сначала на EastFruit.

The experts of the Federation of Agricultural Producers of Moldova (FARM) note that after stagnation in 2020, the process of increasing wages for seasonal workers resumed in the fruit growing sector last year. If farms of medium size and average modernization level paid workers hired to harvest fruits, berries and grapes about 200-250 MDL per day ($11-14) in 2020, the range of their daily wages increased to 280- 300 MDL ($16-17) in 2021.

Of course, there were deviations from this level of payment. In particular, many table grapes growers with plantations of the Pergola type paid seasonal workers more than the average – up to 450 MDL ($25) per day in some periods of the season. However, it was also reported that the average level of wages for day workers fell below 200 MDL in some regions. In general, fruit growers noted more complicated hiring of day laborers, even when enterprises were ready to pay more than in 2020.

Given the high inflationary expectations and the outflow of labor migrants that started immediately after the winter holidays, most fruit-growing associations believe the labor shortage to increase this year. But few farmers say they intend to raise wages for full-time and seasonal workers at least by the expected inflation rate of the national currency.

It should be taken into account that many agricultural producers in Moldova consider the low labor productivity of seasonal workers to be a limiting factor in the growth of wages, given their advanced age of the workers available on the domestic market.

Сообщение Moldovan growers expect worsening labor shortage in 2022 появились сначала на EastFruit.

Harvesting of late pear varieties in Uzbekistan ended about ten days ago, and their prices continue to rise, indicating a low pear harvest in the country compared to 2020 and 2019, EastFruit analysts say.

The pear harvesting season in the country starts in the first decade of July and ends in the second decade of October, with a total duration of about 3.5 months.

If we look at the dynamics of the average wholesale price for pears in 2021, the lowest level was recorded on August 5, 2021, at the height of the season and during the harvesting of mid-season pear varieties – 14,000 UZS/kg ($1.3). The average wholesale prices have increased by 57% since then and, as of October 28, 2021, they are 22,000 UZS/kg ($2.1).

At the same time, the average wholesale prices for pears at the end of October 2021 are 1.5 times higher than on the same date in 2020, and 3 times higher than on the same date in 2019. In previous years, pear prices grew from the 20th of October to the end of the year. But with even such an increase, the average wholesale prices for pears as of October 28, 2021 are 10% higher than the New Year’s Eve prices in 2020 and 120% higher than the New Year’s Eve prices in 2019. On December 31, 2020, the average wholesale price was 20,000 UZS/kg ($1.9), and on the same date in 2019 – 10,000 UZS/kg ($1.1).

EastFruit analysts note that the average wholesale prices for pears in Uzbekistan are currently the highest among the countries monitored by EastFruit on a weekly basis.

Retail pear prices in supermarkets in the capital of Uzbekistan as of October 28, 2021 range from 23,000 to 40,000 UZS/kg (from $2.2 to $3.7), depending on the variety and quality. Relatively high prices for apples this year contribute to high prices for pears.

Pear prices in 2021 increased in many countries, including China, its main supplier to the Uzbek market. China accounts for 90-95% of all fresh pear imports to Uzbekistan. However, the growth rate of pear prices in Uzbekistan is much higher now than in other countries monitored by EastFruit.

In this regard, the decision of the Government of Uzbekistan dated October 7, 2021 on the abolition of customs duties on the import of a number of fruits, including pears, until May 1, 2022 was very timely. This will be an important factor in curbing the price rise for pears, and they can even be reduced. In addition to China, Uzbekistan will also be able to import fresh pears from Poland, Georgia and Moldova, where average wholesale prices are 3-3.5 times lower than in Uzbekistan.

Сообщение Pear prices in Uzbekistan set new records появились сначала на EastFruit.

The “Taifi” grape variety is being harvested on rainfed lands in the Tursunzade region (Tajikistan). According to Bakhtiyor Abduvokhidov, a consultant to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), such rainfed vineyards are planted in hilly and mountainous areas. Plantings of this type are common in such regions as Tursunzade, Gissar, Istaravshan, Penjikent. Grape yields vary depending on growing conditions, but in general households receive a good income.

The expert notes that table grapes are planted for sale on the domestic market. Grape growers store the “Taifi” variety until the New Year holidays in separate rooms with no.

Bakhtiyor Abduvohidov clarifies that a kilogram of grapes can now be bought at 3 TJS ($0.27) from farmers, and the price will rise to 12 TJS ($1.07) in winter.

You can see how grapes are grown and harvested in the photos Sobirchon Saidov shared on his Facebook page.

Сообщение Harvesting Taifi grapes in Tajikistan – photo report появились сначала на EastFruit.

This year, excessive rainfall has not done much damage to potato growers. Excess moisture was observed mainly in the South, while in Central Ukraine there was a drought.

However, thanks to mutual compensation, there will be no shortage of potatoes this year, said Nikolay Gordiychuk, director of Agrico Ukraine, a market leader in seed potatoes, both imported and produced in Ukraine, to EastFruit

“We saw excessive moisture this year mainly in the South. Indeed, it caused lots of loss due to potatoes diseases. The price fell to 4-3 UAH per kg. At that time, the entire South was harvesting, and farmers were trying to sell these potatoes as soon as possible.

In central Ukraine, there was no such excessive amount of moisture during the growing season. This region, on the other hand, was slightly affected by the drought, so this year the harvest here is slightly lower. However, low harvest in these regions will be offset by a sufficient harvest in Western Ukraine, where farmers harvest up to 50 tons per ha. I think that this year we will have sufficient locally-grown potatoes” says Nikolay Gordiychuk.

“This year, the harvesting of potatoes has shifted by almost two weeks due to the rains in September. Some farms were forced to stop working for almost 10 days. Now everyone is actively trying to harvest the potatoes as quickly as possible to store them. If the weather allows and there will be another 10-15 sunny days, we will have potatoes in sufficient quantities. If there are prolonged rains or early frosts, it may be that there will be a shortage of potatoes” adds the director of the “Agrico Ukraine” company.

“Now in many farms, almost 30% of potatoes have not yet been harvested. Therefore, it is still too early to access the yield. What we are seeing: the average yield in farms that grow potatoes professionally is at the level of 27-32 tons per ha. Of course, there are farms where the yield is much higher – 45 and 50 tons per ha, but it will be possible to talk about specific figures only when the farms finish harvesting potatoes” Nikolai Gordiychuk notes.

“The situation is different for our neighbors, who have a shortage of potatoes. The shortage of potatoes in Belarus has already caused quite high prices, a rather high price in the Netherlands (18-20 EUR cents per kilogram), which is almost twice as much as last year at this time. Therefore, at the moment, we do not observe such a large import of potatoes to Ukraine as it was during the same period of the last year” – emphasizes the director of the“ Agrico Ukraine ”company.

Сообщение Ukraine has a real chance of avoiding potato imports – the harvest is promised to be high появились сначала на EastFruit.

The almond harvest season has ended in Uzbekistan. It starts at the end of July with early varieties and ends at the end of September with late varieties, lasting about two months. Despite the low almond harvest this year, the downward trend in prices that started in the third decade of August during the harvest of mid-season varieties continued this week. As of October 7, 2021, the average wholesale prices for almonds are 40% lower compared to those recorded 1,5 months ago.

Given the virtual absence of almond imports in 2021, the reason for an unusual combination of a low harvest and declining prices for almonds in Uzbekistan is quite simple, EastFruit analysts say. Almond harvest expectations were the worst and real volume was better than expected.

Early varieties of almonds bloom in Uzbekistan even before the calendar spring starts. However, abnormal warming in the winter months of 2021 led to early blooming of almond trees. In the southern regions of Uzbekistan, almonds bloomed in mid-February, and a little later blooming started in the central part of the country. The two waves of frost that followed this warming, in late February and mid-March, caused great damage to this year’s harvest of almonds and other nuts and stone fruits. Potential loss of almond yield was estimated from 30% to 90% depending on the region.

Read also: Almonds harvesting in Georgia’s largest orchard (video)

The expectations of the almond market participants for this year’s harvest were the worst and the prices began to rise in the beginning of April. From March 25 to June 17, the average wholesale prices for inshell almonds increased twice from 50,000 UZS/kg ($4.8) to 100,000 UZS/kg ($9.4). Over the next two months – until the 20th of August, prices remained at the same level. Prices began to decline only in the third decade of August and this trend continues. From 19 August to 7 October 2021, the average wholesale prices for inshell almonds fell from 100,000 UZS/kg ($9.4) to 60,000 UZS/kg ($5.6), i.e. by 40%.

Such sharp fluctuations in prices are explained by the greatest damage caused by weather anomalies to the harvest of early almond varieties, as expected, a lesser damage to mid-ripening varieties and even less – to late varieties. Harvesting of early varieties in Uzbekistan begins in late July – early August, but their prices were record high until the 20th of August. Prices began to decline in the third decade of August, when the harvest of mid-ripening almond varieties started. When the harvest of mid-ripening varieties was ending and transition to late-ripening varieties started, the downward price trend continued. In other words, the worst expectations for the almond yield came true for the early varieties, while the mid-ripening and late varieties turned out to be better than expected.

It is noteworthy that the current average wholesale prices for almonds are at the same level as recorded on the same date last year, but 50% higher than on the same date in 2019. This is due to the almond harvest being significantly lower in 2020 than in 2019. In other words, the almond harvest in the country has been lower than usual for the second year.

As for the further dynamics of almond prices, market participants say that a further significant decrease can hardly be expected.

Сообщение Almonds prices in Uzbekistan fell by 40% in one and a half months появились сначала на EastFruit.

In the Russian potato market, the upward trend in prices continues, and today they have already reached record level over the past few years, analysts of the EastFruit project report. Due to heavy rains, Russian producers are now experiencing difficulties in harvesting potatoes, which led to a significant decrease in their supply on the market and, accordingly, a rapid rise in prices.

At the moment, Russian farmers are selling potatoes at 28-36 RUB/kg ($0.39-0.50/kg), which is on average 30% more expensive than last week. Despite the rise in potato price, the demand in Russia remains quite high. Wholesale companies continue to actively purchase potatoes for storage.

In addition, there are imported potatoes from Belarus and Kazakhstan on the Russian market. But, according to market participants, the volume of imported potatoes is not enough to meet the current demand. At the same time, prices for imported products are also growing amid increased demand and shortage of local potatoes. Today imported potatoes are sold no cheaper than 23-25 ​​RUB/kg ($0.32-0.34/kg).

Read also: Potato and vegetable prices set new records in Russia

Today, prices for potatoes in the Russian Federation are already 2.3 times higher than at the end of September 2020. At the same time, most of the key market players assume there might be a further rise in the price, since the potato yield has noticeably decreased in the current season, and many producers are currently holding sales, hoping that potato prices will rise even more.

Сообщение Russian potato market: prices are growing every day появились сначала на EastFruit.

According to EastFruit, harvesting of almonds is in full swing in Georgia. Almonds are a fairly new culture for the country, but the orchards that were planted 4-5 years ago are beginning to enter in the full commercial production.

The largest plantation belongs to Adjara Group. Today, the total area of ​​the almond orchard of the Udabno company is 2,300 hectares, of which almonds are harvested from 1000 hectares in 2021. Earlier we talked in detail about this project. Now EastFruit has a unique opportunity to show you how almonds are harvested at the Udabno company in the next video.

You can also compare this to how almonds are harvested in California (video is available here), and learn about all aspects of growing, post-harvest handling and marketing of almonds, as well as their profitability in the USA (video is available here). However, let’s return to the almond orchards of Georgia.

According to Goderdzi Metreveli, director of Udabno, the company plans to harvest 500-600 tons of almonds in 2021. At the moment, the harvesting of almonds of the Guara and Supernova varieties, which are planned to be exported to the EU countries, is underway. A week later, the Lauren variety will be harvested, which ripens a little later. In general, the company’s management is satisfied with the quality of the grown almonds, the caliber of which ranges from 29 to 30mm.

In addition, in a few months, the plant will be equipped with technologies for drying and splitting almonds from Borelli. The line’s capacity will be 2.5 tons of almonds per hour. This year’s harvest is planned to be finalized with this equipment, and next season Udabno will be ready to buy almonds from other farmers in Georgia or provide them with services for the processing of almonds.

Since the company plans to develop organic cultivation in the future – not only almonds, but also berries and grapes, it has already reduced the use of plant protection chemicals to a minimum. The company plans to complete the full transition to certified cultivation of organic fruit, berry and nut products in a few years.

EastFruit thanks the Udabno company for the video materials provided.

Сообщение Almonds harvesting in Georgia’s largest orchard (video) появились сначала на EastFruit.

The prices for white cabbage on the Russian market have remained relatively stable for the last 3 months, analysts of the EastFruit project report. But there is a negative price trend in this segment today, since growers almost all over the country have started harvesting late varieties of cabbage.

Over the week, the price of cabbage in Russia decreased by an average of 12%. Today, most growers are ready to ship white cabbage at 17-27 RUB/kg ($ 0.23-0.37/kg), while a week earlier the price did not fall below 20 RUB/kg ($ 0.27 / kg).

According to the grower, the weather this season affected the appearance of medium and late varieties of cabbage: due to prolonged rains, there was excessive water in cabbage fields, which subsequently led to cracking of cabbage.

However, the prices for white cabbage in the Russian Federation today are on average two times higher than in the same period last year. Key market players attribute this price difference to a noticeable decrease in the gross harvest of white cabbage. It is worth noting that many growers consider the decline in prices in this segment to be a temporary phenomenon, since cabbage not suitable for long-term storage is sold today.

Сообщение Russia: Harvesting of late varieties of cabbage led to a decrease in prices появились сначала на EastFruit.