Berea, July 08 — A producer of dried and canned peaches in Teyateyaneng says the sector experienced a decline in production after heavy rains damaged peach crops, resulting in significant fruit loss.
Speaking in an interview with the Agency, Ms. Lipuo Palime said production of both dried peaches and canned peaches was severely affected as many were damaged by excessive rainfall and eventually rotted before they could be processed.
She said the poor harvest reduced production to levels below those of the previous year, making it difficult for producers to meet market demand.
Ms. Palime further indicated that the shortage of raw materials also affected their ability to produce enough products while they continued to face challenges in securing sufficient markets for their produce.
She explained that the effects of the reduced peach supply were felt across both dried and canned peach production, as both products depend on the availability of fresh peaches.
Ms. Palime said they managed to mitigate the challenge by sourcing peaches from other producers, particularly those in rural areas where crops were not severely affected by the heavy rains.
She added that producers also supported each other by sharing available markets, including purchasing dried peaches from other producers and reselling them at their own prices to ensure that the products remained available to customers.
She noted that collaboration among producers helped them to continue operating despite the challenges caused by the reduced peach harvest.
Ends/MTM/tl
