The fruit harvest this year is notably lower because of high temperatures and insufficient rainfall. Peaches and plums have already been harvested and pears are expected to be picked in the next few days. Apples are still in the orchards and are anticipated to be harvested by the end of next week.
Professor Zoran Koserović from the Faculty of Agriculture in Novi Sad told Dnevnik that the fruit yield will be less than in previous years due to unfavorable climatic conditions. “This year’s yield is projected to be around 1.25 million tons, which is below the average of 1.4 million tons we’ve seen in recent years. Frost, hail, drought, and high temperatures have all contributed to the reduced yield,” explained Professor Koserović.
Kostadin Stakić, a fruit grower from Neštin in Srem, noted that the fruit is already showing signs of autumn due to the heat and drought. The tropical climate has sped up the ripening process. “Ten years ago, I installed two wells for around-the-clock irrigation, which has helped keep the fruit in relatively good condition. However, irrigation alone can’t fully counteract the effects of high temperatures. I plan to start harvesting apples by the end of next week, beginning with the Golden Delicious variety, known for its large, high-quality fruit suitable for storage. I expect to finish harvesting Williams pears in the next four to five days. The remaining varieties, like Abate Fetel and Kaluđerka, which mature later, will also be picked in about ten days,” Stakić said.
Stakić expects a pear yield of about 20 tons per hectare, with two-thirds going to industrial processing due to damage from hail. “The pear variety is not very vigorous, and fewer trees are planted per hectare, which also contributes to the lower yield,” he added.
Among the fruits, plums, particularly Čačanska varieties, have performed well, while peaches and apricots have been affected by the hail. “I am pleased with the plum yield, which ranges from 30 to 50 kilograms per tree. Despite some rainfall until mid-July, the quality remains high for both consumption and processing. I sold the consumable plums directly from my farm for between 60 and 70 dinars, depending on the quantity purchased. Some growers sold them for 40 dinars for rakija due to their lower quality. Peaches, unfortunately, did not meet expectations, again because of hail,” Stakić noted.
He added that hail damage in some areas of Neštin affected the quality of the fruit. Although the quantity was good and the fruits were large, the hail caused significant damage. “Peaches were priced reasonably this year, ranging from 100 to 150 dinars in markets,” said Stakić. Apricots had a good bloom but suffered from early frost, leaving only 10 to 15 percent of healthy fruit. This scarcity drove up prices, with apricots sold for 70 to 80 dinars for rakija and industry use, and up to 150 dinars per kilogram in markets for consumable apricots.
Fruit growers facing narrow profit margins
Stakić highlighted that fruit growers are dissatisfied with current prices, which have remained stagnant despite rising production costs. “Ten years ago, I sold consumable pears for 0.7 euros per kilogram during a good harvest year. Now, they are priced around 80 dinars, even though the cost of materials has increased significantly. As a result, the profits from pears and other fruits will be minimal or even negligible,” Stakić concluded.
