AZE.US
Summer fruit has arrived in Azerbaijan’s markets, but the seasonal price drop many shoppers expected has yet to happen.
Cherries are selling for as much as 12 manats per kilogram ($7.05) in Baku. Sour plums cost about 3.50 to 4 manats ($2.05 to $2.35), while apricots are priced between 4 and 7 manats ($2.35 to $4.10). Peaches are selling for around 7 manats ($4.10) per kilogram.
Vendors say demand remains weak. Many customers ask about prices but leave without buying.
Farmers and sellers offer several explanations for the high prices. Some blame heavy rain, hail and flooding, which damaged orchards and reduced the amount of marketable fruit. Others say the harvest is relatively strong, but production costs have risen sharply.
Farmers report higher spending on fertilizer, pesticides, irrigation, fuel and labor. In some cases, annual orchard expenses that previously stood at about 1,000 manats ($588) have climbed to nearly 3,000 manats ($1,765).
Transportation from the regions to Baku adds another layer of costs. A farmer may sell fruit at a wholesale market for 3 to 4 manats per kilogram ($1.75 to $2.35), while the same product reaches retail stalls at 5 to 7 manats ($2.95 to $4.10) or more.
Fuel, transportation, market fees, spoiled produce and intermediary margins are all added to the final price.
Some growers say they struggle to sell their harvest at all. In the regions, farmers may be forced to accept just 1 to 2 manats per kilogram ($0.60 to $1.20), even though the same fruit is later sold in Baku for several times more.
Local produce can also lose out to larger and more visually attractive fruit brought from other parts of the country or imported from abroad.
Agriculture expert Javad Guliyev said fruit prices depend on more than the size of the harvest. Weather, production costs, logistics, demand and the number of intermediaries between farmers and consumers all affect the final price.
Even when fruit is plentiful, growers may be unable to lower prices because they still need to recover their costs and finance the next season.
Vegetable prices could fall sooner. Cucumbers are currently selling for about 1.30 manats per kilogram ($0.75). Tomatoes range from 1.30 to 3.50 manats ($0.75 to $2.05), while eggplants and peppers cost around 2.50 manats ($1.45).
Sellers say vegetable prices may ease as supplies increase. The outlook for fruit is less certain.
For now, fuller market stalls have not translated into cheaper seasonal produce for Azerbaijani consumers.
AZE.US