While farmers in the northern parts of South Africa are currently dealing with exceptionally heavy rainfall, excessive rain is also causing problems for producers elsewhere in the world.

By Marise Schoonraad

New Zealand cherry farmers in the Cromwell and Tarras areas of Central Otago were forced to deploy helicopters, frost fans and rain shelters earlier this month following heavy rainfall, amid concerns about crop losses and the possible impact on the export value of their produce, reports online news platform Crux.

About 20mm of rain was recorded in Cromwell, while the Tarras area received approximately 30mm. This is particularly problematic for cherry crops, as excessive moisture causes the fruit skins to burst due to direct water absorption and increased uptake by the trees.

According to cherry grower Mike Casey, one of his five cherry cultivars may have been damaged and will likely not be suitable for export. He estimates the value of the loss at between NZ$100 000 (about R941 200) and NZ$200 000 (about R1 882 400).

“We will know within the next few days how the cherries look and will then be able to determine the sugar content. This can affect the farm-gate price and the export value,” he said.

When cherry skins burst, the quality and marketability of the fruit are compromised, as sugar levels play an important role in determining price and suitability for export.

Dean Smith, CEO of Summerfruit NZ, told Crux although the rainfall was very heavy, the damage may be limited.

Also read: Wet planting season: Maize, soya beans starting to rot in places

Cultivar diversity reduces risk

According to Smith, cherry growers are protecting themselves by planting different cultivars.

He explained that cultivar diversity helps protect crops from severe weather conditions. “Different cultivars ripen gradually throughout the season. If a large volume of fruit ripens at the same time, growers are more exposed to losses. However, if fruit is still a week or two away from ripening, the risk is lower,” he said.

Cherry growers will continue to monitor the condition and sugar levels of the fruit over the coming days to inform further decisions.