Rain in the Corrientes region in north-eastern Argentina has given citrus crops a welcome boost.
Heavy rainfall over the weekend has brought relief following a long, dry spell that was seriously threatening production in an important citrus export area.
Juan Carlos Achitte, president of the Bella Vista citrus association, said: “We were in a long, dry period that was very damaging to the trees, Even though the rainfall has come very late, it has served to help the plantations recover.”
Some 80mm of rain fell in the space of a few hours and although it has come much too late for the 2009 season, which saw the region’s orange, lemon and easy-peel exports reduced by half because of drought, it will help for next year.
Achitte said: “The rains will help out quite a bit, but there will still be losses.”
