"Raspberries should cost at least 6 GEL in order to make profit for farmer”
(Summary)
The raspberry season is in its peak. Raspberry quantities have increased on the local market and prices have fallen down respectively. One kilo of raspberries costs 6-7 GEL in the markets.
Farmers are now selling kilogram of raspberries for 5 GEL from their orchards, though they say that at the peak of the season, which is from mid-July until the end of the month, its price will drop.
“We have a good harvest this year. Fruits from the garden are transported by distributors for sale. Average price per kilo is 5 GEL. Net profit per kilo is 1 GEL. This is not a good price. For a farmer to maintain a normal profit, a kilo of raspberries should be at least 6 GEL. It would be good to maintain this price until August, but in mid-July when the crop rises, raspberries become cheaper. If the average profit per kilo is 2.5-3 GEL, it would make sense to grow raspberries. In Autumn, the price increases and reaches to 10 GEL. There are so many problems with raspberry cultivation, and in the end we have almost nothing in our hands. I have already planted a large orchards, bank loans need to be paid and I can not give up! ”- says farmer Giga Mogelashvili from Variani.
Farmer Davit Dabrundashvili sells his total harvest to local markets. Davit has cultivated Raspberries on 4 ha in Kaspi.
“Part of the crop is sold locally, some we bring to Tbilisi ourselves. We deliver 40 Kilos per day to hypermarket “Agrohub”. We also provide our raspberries for processing in Tbilisi. We sell a kilo of raspberries for 5 GEL on average. Last year it was the same price” - says Davit Dabrundashvili.
Only a small part of farmers sold their raspberries to exporters. The interest of the importing companies for this fruit was relatively low this year. The reason is transportation related difficulties.
“Some exporters took raspberries from us to Dubai and sold them without any difficulty. I put it in 125 gram containers, as I was asked, kept it in the fridge for one night and then sent to the exporter. But it seems there was no more interest from the customer”- says Giga Mogelashvili.
Producers suggest that the price of raspberries will drop in July.
“Since July, a lot of raspberries have entered the market. In the mountainous regions the crop has already been harvested. Small producers hold a big market share. Even if I go to Batumi, they will not pay more than 6 GEL in good raspberries. Last year's price was similar. The market has died down since mid-July. Then in August the sale was revived and I was paid 8-9 GEL per kilo. If raspberries are not exported, that quantity will be in excess for our market, ”said Giga Mogelashvili.
In Poland, because the crop is spoiled due to bad weather, a kilo of raspberries is relatively expensive - under $ 3. In Ukraine a kilo of raspberries sells for $ 1.3.
Author: Nona Kvlividze
The article is prepared with the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania and "Development Cooperation and Democracy Promotion Programme."
