April 1 2014, 09:59 Fruit-Inform

Russia: stonefruit production may halve in some regions of Krasnodar Krai due to cold spell

According to Yuga portal, farmers from Krasnodar Krai say of a scattered decrease in temperature to 8 degrees below zero on March 29-30 that may lead to lower production of peaches (minus 30%) and cherry plums (minus 10-15%). At the same time, the Press Service of Ministry of Agriculture and Processing Industry of Krasnodar Krai says of no significant decrease expected in production of plums, sour and sweet cherries, apples and pears in the region.

“Abnormally low temperature affected fruit and berry plantations, depending on crop and region, during the stages of buds bursting, start of blossoming and full blossoming. Farmers from the city of Gelendzhik and Tuapsinsky District report of full blossoming of peaches and cherry plums. Cherry plums have also started blossoming in the central regions of Krasnodar Krai. At the same time, no commercial growers of key fruit crops said of blossoming in the eastern and northern regions”, the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, Fruit-Inform data are less optimistic than official. Growers from Dinskoy and Abinsky Districts of Krasnodar Krai say that a decrease in peach production may reach the level of 50% due to cold spell, and production of cherry plums may fall by up to 30% in some regions. Apricot orchards suffered from a fall in temperature the most that may result in a fall of up to 80% in apricot production in some regions of Krasnodar Krai. At the same time, growers from the northern regions say of almost no serious impact of cold spell on orchards.