AGRICULTURAL NEWS - Sundays River Valley citrus farmers are set to lose up to R600-million as half of their navel production has been lost due to abnormal weather patterns. Initial reports from farmers indicated that 40% of the navels were dropping from trees with the skin split, making it impossible to export them.

But Sundays River Citrus Company (SRCC) managing director Hannes de Waal said updated figures showed 50% of the orange variant had gone to waste.

“Navels are especially popular for export because they are available at a time when other oranges are not in season,” De Waal said.

“But now, thanks to this natural phenomenon, we will lose half the harvest at a cost of between R400-million and R600-million to the local farmers.”

This amount, though, is only from the loss in actual fruit.

De Waal estimates the amount could run close to R1-billion if the entire supply chain is taken into account.

Valencias, another orange variant grown for a different time of year, were also affected, but to a much lesser extent than the navels.