South Africa’s guava farmers are fighting a losing battle

Guava production in South Africa is dropping due to a deadly wilt disease and low farm profit margins. Amid production delays, producer sentiment remains negative despite the demand for fresh guavas gradually increasing. Guavas, also known as poor man’s apple because it is full of nutrients and inexpensive, was first planted in South Africa in 1890 by Gawie Malherbe in Paarl. According to an agricultural economist at the National Agricultural Marketing Council, Thabile Nkunjana, guava production in South Africa has fallen slightly over the years due to a variety of issues including guava wilt disease and low-profit margins at times. Unpredictable weather patterns are adding to the challenges and Western Cape farmers are feeling it the worst, Nkunjana said. Excessive rains in the province, he added, have led to a five-week harvest delay in this year’s guava marketing season which normally runs from April to September. “Farmers will be affected differently depending on where they ...