Almonds: the nut with the highest relative growth potential

August 25, 2017 at 9:54 AM , Starry Night Ltd.
Play report as audio

The exclusive nut has always commanded a high premium. Cultivated acreages on a year-to-year basis increased by 72%.

SOFIA. The exclusive taste of the locally grown nut, indeed that of the organic almond, and the higher premium that it commands have shifted the focus of local farmers toward the cultivation of more almond orchards. Another strong reason is the fact that for years, local supply fails to meet local demand, and as a result the gap is filled by imported almonds, usually from the USA.

Almonds: focus is firmly on cultivating more acreages

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, in 2015 farmers harvested 574 ha of almond orchards while in 2016, almonds were collected from a total area of 987 ha; the difference is 72%. During season 2015-16, farmers collected 424 mt of the crop in shell while during season 2016-17, the estimate stood at 841 mt. On a year-to-year basis, the change stood at 98.3% in favor of the most recent season.

However, one should be careful with the latter figure since the previous season was a disaster – for all nuts throughout the country, with minor exceptions in some regions – and high quality kernels, those that really reached the local and/or foreign markets, according to substantially established local sellers, were small in quantities. Weights of in shell nuts differ from those of pure kernels, even more when the kernel has not been fully matured or is dried, etc. because of a weak season.

Anyhow, the return of investment in almond orchards is characterized by a long-term span horizon since on average, it takes five years before an almond tree could fully realize its harvest potential. The rest is a weather factor!

View related articles

Go to the News Overview
Nuts
Nov 22, 2024
ORDU. While producers are patiently waiting for Ferrero to conduct the next move, producers are holding back incredible volumes of hazelnuts in Turkey.
Nuts
Nov 21, 2024
BRUSSELS. Eager suppliers are urging customers to act fast for pine nuts in China and Turkey. As recent import statistics show Russia’s export duties have failed to impress buyers in the EU this season so far..
Nuts
Nov 20, 2024
HANOI. No other country exports as many processed cashew kernels as Vietnam. However, processors are dependent on high RCN imports, which are detrimental to domestic producers. EU imports have increased.
Nuts
Nov 18, 2024
NEW DELHI/BUENOS AIRES. Prices on the Indian peanut market have fallen steadily in recent months and now have hardly any room for further declines. A record acreage is expected in Argentina, while anxious eyes are focussed on the USA.