The carob harvest is currently underway, but it is still too early to assess this year’s production, the director general of the agriculture ministry Andreas Grigoriou said on Monday.
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), Grigoriou added that a decree issued last year set the start of the carob harvesting and storage period from August 15 onwards, as carobs are not fully ripe before this date.
However, he did not rule out the possibility that this year’s heatwave may have caused the carobs to ripen earlier.
“If harvested while unripe, the carobs will deteriorate during the winter and will not be suitable for either human consumption or animal feed,” Grigoriou explained.
Regarding this year’s production, he said that because the harvest is still in progress, a clear picture of the total yield is not yet available.
“A more accurate assessment will be possible by the end of September, once the harvest is completed,” he added.
The record year for carob production was two years ago but this year’s drought may have a limiting effect on the yield.
The director general explained that carobs are used for human consumption, with the first-grade seeds being utilised by industry, while second and third-grade carobs are used for animal feed.
As far as carob exports are concerned, Grigoriou revealed that all produced carobs are exported, as no reserves are kept.
The agriculture ministry is currently offering incentives for planting carob trees.
