What is the current state of almond production in Portugal?

Portugal Nuts, in collaboration with the National Center for Dried Fruit Competence (CNCFS), published the second edition of “PortugAlmond Info”, which disseminates the most recent information on the almond crop cycle in the most important productive regions of the country: Trás -os-Montes, Beira Interior, Ribatejo, Alentejo and Algarve.

The analysis was based on information collected from members of organizations in the sector and was carried out at the end of flowering of the crops.

In general, the bulletin states that, compared to the average of recent campaigns, the Trás-os-Montes region records a decline in production potential. Beira Interior remains stable and Ribatejo, Alentejo and Algarve registered an increase in production potential.

Regarding the general state of crop development, the bulletin states that, followed by abundant flowering, there were periods of low temperatures, instability, strong winds and intense precipitation that “interfered with this phase of vegetative development and also with the performance of natural and introduced pollinators, both in self-incompatible and self-fertile varieties”.

Behind-the-hills
In this region, according to the report, flowering began around 15 days earlier than last year, “leaving almond trees susceptible for a longer period to frost and some problems with fruit setting”.

Sufficient and adequate cold hours were recorded for almond development/production, however, snowfall, intense rain and low temperatures “partially affected flowering”.

Beira Interior

According to “PortugAlmond Info”, the period was “notoriously marked by meteorological instability”, with important thermal inversions, abundant rain and some episodes of strong wind.

This led to, in most varieties, “a rapid start of the reproductive and vegetative cycle, which ended up culminating in a high level of phenology”, highlights the Portugal Nuts bulletin.

Thus, the report states that, in general, “the production potential verified was promising, however, given the precipitation conditions and strong winds observed, productivity may, in some cases, be lower than expected”.

Ribatejo
Regarding the Ribatejo region, during flowering there were significant fluctuations in temperatures, coupled with episodes of strong rain and wind, leading to these events causing “a reduction in fruit set and fruit fall, especially in varieties that they were in full bloom during the rainiest periods.”

In this sense, the bulletin states that “fruit set appears to be below expectations given the flowering observed, even so, above that seen in 2023”, but below the production expectations of the orchards.

Alentejo
In Alentejo, in general, it presented a flowering potential that was “quite promising in the initial phase, especially when compared to the same period in 2023”. However, the weather conditions recorded, such as wind and rain, “reduced the potential for revenge”. This led to production falling short of expectations, explains the bulletin.

“In most varieties, the fruit is already set and growing. Although it is too early to make predictions, the production potential appears to be higher than that of 2023”, states the Portugal Nuts report, which also added that producers have been paying attention to the increased pressure of cryptogamic diseases associated with the type of weather observed.

Algarve
In the Algarve region, the report indicates that flowering and fruiting “went well”, with favorable conditions and the production potential “appears to be higher than last year”.

The report states that, in the analysis, only information from the most modern plantations was included, “although with little significance in the region”.